Why haven't Ukraine's abundant rare earth minerals been exploited despite their technological importance and the country's rich mineral deposits?

The exploitation of Ukraine's rare earth minerals faces significant structural and geopolitical barriers beyond simple extraction. Establishing a viable mining industry requires extensive infrastructure development, including processing facilities, refining operations, and manufacturing capabilities - a complex undertaking that typically takes 15 years to fully implement. The primary obstacle is investment risk stemming from ongoing security concerns. Russia's invasion and occupation of substantial portions of Ukraine's mineral-rich territories have created an extremely unstable investment environment. Historic security issues in the region further compound these challenges, making international investors hesitant to commit the substantial capital required for long-term mining operations and infrastructure development.