In brief
The mine, crucial for coking coal production, witnessed its last operational moments as surrounding battles intensified. Workers expressed their farewells amidst the uncertainty brought on by the relentless advancements of Russian troops.
It was a dark night when Anton Telegin journeyed to a vital coal mine close to Ukraine’s eastern frontline, utilizing the cover of night to evade Russian targeting drones. His mission, as on many month-ends, was to collect wages for himself and several fellow miners—but this trip, made on December 26, stood apart. Russian troops were closing in, marking a somber possibility that it might be his final visit to the mine where he spent 18 years of his life. Over recent months, the intensity of Russian strikes had altered the landscape of their workplace dramatically. Just two days prior, a strike had knocked out the electricity substation, halting all mining operations. A palpable sense of dread loomed as some miners began to depart, gathering their belongings and muttering farewells. Mr. Telegin recounted how they were, “packing up, already saying goodbye.” Since that visit, he has not returned, now regrouping in Kyiv, as the threat of conflict rendered the mine inoperative. The closure of this mine, located just southeast of Pokrovsk, extinguished a desperate effort by Ukraine to maintain operations until the very last moment. This facility had represented Ukraine’s last standing operation producing coking coal, critical for steel manufacturing and, by extension, the national war effort. The recent announcement from Metinvest, the mining company, confirmed the unfortunate shutdown, highlighting the harsh realities faced on the front lines of this ongoing conflict.
