“Ukraine may halve steel production if occupiers seize mine near Pokrovsk — Reuters October 16, 20:22 Share: Residential building damaged by Russian strike in Pokrovsk (Photo: REUTERS/Anton Shynkarenko) Russian occupiers approach a coking coal mine near Pokrovsk in Donetsk region. The loss of this mine could lead to “serious losses for the economy of Ukraine.” This was reported by the Reuters agency with reference to the head of the Association of Metallurgists of Ukraine”, — write on: ua.news
A residential building in Pokrovsk damaged by a Russian strike (Photo: REUTERS/Anton Shynkarenko)
Russian occupiers are approaching a coking coal mine near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. The loss of this mine could lead to “serious losses for the economy of Ukraine.”
This was reported by the Reuters agency with reference to the head of the Association of Metallurgists of Ukraine Oleksandr Kalenkov on Tuesday, October 16.
As the agency notes, the mine is located west of the center of Pokrovsk. Kalenkov explained that the approach of the Russians to the Pokrovsk mine, which is the only Ukrainian source of coking coal, will lead to a reduction in steel production.
“We could produce up to 7.5 million metric tons of steel by the end of the year, and next year we forecast production to rise to more than 10 million tons. But if we lose Pokrovsk, production will drop to 2-3 million tons,” he said.
Anatoly Starovoyt, head of the Ukrkoks coke-chemical association, told reporters that Ukraine produced about 3.5 million tons of coke in 2023. For this, only coking coal mined in Pokrovsk was used.
“We don’t know where to get coal if Pokrovsk is captured… Importing coal is difficult, as today it is not easy to deliver it by sea,” said Starovoit.
A source in the metallurgical industry told reporters that producers hope to find alternative sources of coking coal in other regions of Ukraine if the mine in Pokrovsk is occupied. At the same time, imports will be needed, which will increase production costs and make Ukrainian steel less competitive.
Russian offensive on Pokrovsk
On August 16, the head of the Pokrovsk district state administration, Volodymyr Zamotaev, said that the Russian invaders are already 10.5 kilometers from the city.
On September 5, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said that Ukrainian forces managed to stop the advance of the Russian invaders in the Pokrovsky direction.
According to British intelligence, Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region remains the main target of the Russian invaders, who continue to capture new settlements.
On October 3, analysts of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that the Russians had captured new areas near Pokrovsk.
On October 4, the intelligence center of the Estonian Defense Forces suggested that by the end of the year, Ukrainian troops may be forced to leave Pokrovsk.
On the same day, Serhiy Dobryak, the head of the Pokrovskaya MBA, reported that the Russians were less than 7 km from the city, where 13,000 residents still remain.
Citing Ukrainian military personnel fighting in the Donetsk region, The Washington Post reported that illegally obtained Starlink terminals helped Russia seize Vugledar and advance on Pokrovsk.