As Russian troops continue approaching the city of Pokrovsk, Ukraine halts the extraction of coking coal near the city, Reuters reported on Jan. 13, citing unnamed sources.
"They have all stopped working now," one Reuters source said. "There's no production there, they're only working on the surface," another Reuters source added.
The Pokrovsk coal mine, one of the largest in Eastern Europe, is located 10 km (6 miles) west of Pokrovsk. The mine produces coal for coke production needed in steelmaking, which is Ukraine's second-largest export after agriculture.
The coal mine, owned by steelmaker Metinvest BV, was the only one in Ukraine producing coking coal.
The eastern front near the town has been the scene of fierce fighting for several months and a focal point of Russia's offensive in Donetsk Oblast, given Pokrovsk's importance as a logistics hub for Ukrainian forces.
According to trade data, exports of steel products totaled nearly $2 billion in the first eight months of 2024.
Experts say Ukrainian steelmakers could have produced up to 7.5 million metric tons of steel by the end of 2024 and planned to increase production to more than 10 million tons in 2025.
Losing Pokrovsk, however, would set back production to 2-3 million tons a year.
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