Russian offensive halts crucial Ukrainian coal mine operations

Metinvest, the largest Ukrainian mining and metallurgical holding, earlier suspended the activities of the coal mine in the town of Pishchane, also in the Donetsk region.

The Pokrowske mine, located in the town of Udachne, is the only producer of coking coal in Ukraine. Halting its operations could have serious consequences for the steel industry, which is key to the country's economy.

Oleksandr Kalenkov, the Ukrainian Metallurgists Association chairman, warns that losing the mine near Pokrowsk could drastically reduce steel production. If Ukraine maintains control over these enterprises, production could reach 10 million tonnes of steel in 2025. Otherwise, this amount could drop to 2-3 million tonnes, which would mean a decline of over 70 percent.

On Sunday, Metinvest announced the cessation of operations at the coal mine in Pishchane, related to the Pokrowske mine. "Due to the worsening security situation, we have suspended operations at the coal production facility in the town of Pishchane, located about 10 kilometres from Pokrowsk in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, as the front line is approaching and shelling is intensifying," the statement said.

The Pokrowske mine's vertical shaft is located on the premises of the Pishchane site and the administrative complex. Metinvest Group evacuated the main personnel and employees' family members. Other key facilities are still operational, and the full effects of the suspension are currently being assessed.

The Ukrainian DeepState project, which monitors the frontline situation, reported that the Russians had made advances in the communities neighbouring Pokrowsk from the south, southeast, and southwest. The situation in the region remains tense, and the future of the mines crucial to the Ukrainian economy is uncertain.