Welcome to ‘New Russia’: How the Kremlin is remaking occupied Ukraine - Reuters

The Kremlin's territorial consolidation moves highlight exactly why central banks have been stacking gold at record pace. When borders shift and sanctions fly, physical metal becomes the ultimate neutral asset. Russia's been dumping dollars and buying gold since 2014 for good reason. Ukraine holds significant mineral deposits, and whoever controls territory controls resources. This kind of geopolitical reshuffling always drives flight to hard assets. Notice how gold barely flinched at $2400 despite this ongoing conflict. The metal has already priced in persistent East-West tensions. Smart stackers recognize these territorial disputes aren't going away anytime soon. Every escalation reinforces gold's role as the currency of last resort when trust breaks down.