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Ukraine's essential coking coal mine still operating as Russians close in

A coal mine in the eastern Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk, the sole domestic supplier of coking coal to the steel market, continues to operate as Russian troops approach, an industry source stated on Friday.

Ukrainian military expert DeepState said Russian soldiers were less than 7 km (4.4 miles) from Pokrovsk's outskirts. The my own lies 10 km (6.2 miles) west of the town, a strategic supply center, in the opposite instructions to the advancing Russian forces.

The mine continues to operate at the very same volume as in recent weeks, said the source, who asked not to be called.

It's unclear at what point the mine's owner, metallurgical group Metinvest, may be required to halt operations and leave personnel.

The authorities have actually been performing a necessary evacuation of civilians from Pokrovsk considering that Sept. 24 and about 11,500 people remained in the city since Dec. 2.

Russian forces are advancing in the eastern Donetsk area at the fastest rate because the early days of the 2022 invasion and Ukraine's army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi stated last month he would enhance the eastern front with reserves, ammunition and devices.

Ukraine's steelmakers' union said in October the capacity closure of the Pokrovsk mine might cause steel production to depression to 2-3 million metric heaps next year from the 7.5 million expected in 2024.

Manufacturers intend to discover alternative sources of coking coal from elsewhere in Ukraine ought to the Pokrovsk mine be seized by Russian troops, but imports would inevitably be needed - hiking costs.

Ukraine increased steel production by 25.7% in January-October to 6.5 million heaps, the steelmakers' union stated. Ukraine generally exports a major part of its metal items, mainly to the European Union.

(source: Reuters)