KYIV (Reuters) – The coal mine in the eastern Ukraine city of Pokrovsk, a supplier of coking coal essential to the steel industry, is still operating despite the approach of Russian troops, an industry source said on Tuesday.
Ukrainian military analysts said this week that Russian forces had moved within about 4.5 miles (7.5 km) of Pokrovsk, overwhelming Ukraine’s stretched defenses with far superior numbers and equipment.
Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian forces have repelled 31 Russian attacks in the Pokrovsk sector, the military said.
The mine is located 10 km west of the city, a strategic supply hub, in the opposite direction of the advancing Russian forces.
The industry source, who asked not to be named, did not say at what point the mine’s owner, metallurgical group Metinvest, might be forced to halt operations and evacuate staff.
Earlier, Metinvest said it was prioritizing worker safety and assisting in the evacuation of workers’ families from the frontline area.
Ukraine’s Steel Producers’ Union said this month that the possible closure of the Pokrovsk mine, the only domestic source of coking coal essential for steelmaking, could lead to steel production next year falling to 2 to 3 million tons, compared with the 7.5 million expected in 2024.
Producers hope to find alternative sources of coking coal from elsewhere in Ukraine if the Pokrovsk mine is seized by Russian forces, but imports would inevitably be needed, driving up costs.
