Copyright © 2021 Euromaidanpress.com

The work of Euromaidan Press is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation

When referencing our materials, please include an active hyperlink to the Euromaidan Press material and a maximum 500-character extract of the story. To reprint anything longer, written permission must be acquired from [email protected].

Privacy and Cookie Policies.

Oligarch Akmetov’s plants in occupied Donbas stop production amid trade blockade

Rinat Akhmetov, owner of SCM Holdings, which is the major shareholder of Metinvest Group. Credit: scmholding.com

Activists have been blocking several railway lines connecting the Donbas with its occupied parts since January. The blockade created obstacles for transportation of coal for anthracite-fired power plants in Ukraine and of iron ore raw materials for steel works on the uncontrolled territories.

On February 20,  the Metinvest Group operating factories on both sides of the frontline reported that its plant and coal company in the occupied regions halt production:

Yenakiieve Iron and Steel Works (“Yenakiieve Steel,” which includes a Makiivka branch), a steelmaker, and Krasnodon Coal Company (“Krasnodon Coal”), a coking coal producer, subsidiaries of Metinvest Group, have halted operations. Production has been disrupted by the ongoing armed hostilities and a blockade of railway transportation between Ukraine and the uncontrolled territory in the southeast.

Metinvest Holding LLC is owned by Ukrainian tycoon Rinat Akhmetov.

Coal trains in Yenakiieve. Credit: twitter.com/Utilizator_
Coal trains stand by in Yenakiieve, unable to leave occupied Donbas because of the blockade. Credit: twitter.com/Utilizator_

A trade blockade of the occupied parts of Donbas was launched on January 25 by demobilized soldiers and veterans of Ukrainian volunteer battalions, Shypilove-Svitlanove rail section which connects occupied Luhansk to government-controlled Lysychansk and Popasna was blocked.

Blockade activists say that trading with the occupied areas is equal to trading on the blood. In their opinion, the militants get their profits from commerce with Ukrainian companies. Authorities are of the opinion that the blockade should be ceased as the country’s energy security is under a threat.

On February 11 another rail section was blocked between government-controlled Kostiantynivka and occupied Yasynuvata.

Then activists set up their checkpoint on a highway near Zolote settlement in Luhansk Oblast on February 16.

On February 9, activists led by 2 MPs rallied in support of the blockade in Kyiv, the protest ended in clashes with riot police, 5 were detained

On February 14, Alchevsk Metallurgical Plant (AMK), an ironworks in the uncontrolled area of Luhansk Oblast, suspended iron smelting. AMK is owned by another Donbas tycoon Serhiy Taruta.

See also:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!
Total
0
Shares
Related Posts