Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The strike caused a power outage, requiring the miners to be rescued.
The strike caused a power outage, requiring the miners to be rescued.
What is happening?
A Russian strike on a coal facility in eastern Ukraine has killed one worker and trapped nearly 150 miners underground, the operator of the mine, DTEK, reports.
DTEK, is Ukraine’s largest private energy company, says that the mine was hit during a wave of shelling, sparking a power outage and chaos below ground.
146 miners rescued
Initially, 146 miners were stranded underground when power was lost.
DTEK reported ongoing efforts to bring them to the surface, and later confirmed all had been rescued safely.
Three workers were injured in the attack, but no further casualties were reported.
Damage to infrastructure and equipment
In a statement, DTEK said the attack had “damaged the enterprise’s buildings and equipment,” causing an immediate power outage.
The loss of electricity left miners stranded in tunnels below the surface, requiring emergency rescue operations.
Location pointed to Donetsk’s Dobropillia community
Although DTEK didn’t specify the mine’s location, Ukrainian lawmaker and union leader Mykhailo Volynets said the strike had hit mines in the Dobropillia community, located in Donetsk Oblast.
Approximately 148 miners were initially believed to be affected.
A region still fiercely contested
Donetsk is part of Ukraine’s industrial Donbas region, which remains partially under Russian occupation.
Despite Russian significant advances, Ukrainian forces continue to defend key positions in what has been called the region’s “fortress belt.”
Ukraine’s industrial core under fire
The Donbas region is rich in coal and metals and has long been central to Ukraine’s economy.
Repeated attacks on energy and mining infrastructure highlight Russia’s strategy to undermine Ukraine’s industrial capacity.
Russia demands territorial surrender
Moscow has reiterated its demand that Ukraine give up remaining territories under its control in exchange for peace.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has outright rejected this proposal, insisting Ukraine will not cede land under pressure.
The US steps up security talks with Ukraine
Amid ongoing hostilities, discussions continue around long-term security guarantees for Ukraine.
The United States has expressed readiness to play a role in Ukraine’s defense but stopped short of promising troops on the ground.
Intelligence support, not troops
During a recent summit with European leaders, former President Donald Trump confirmed that the US would back Ukraine with intelligence and strategic support.
He emphasized this commitment would not include deploying American troops.
Strategic military support
According to the Financial Times, US officials have briefed allies on a plan to supply Ukraine with “strategic enablers.”
These include intelligence gathering, command and control systems, surveillance, and advanced air defense weapons to bolster Ukraine’s front-line resilience.
