Russians attack a mine in Donetsk region: one dead and one wounded, almost 150 miners stayed underground
26 August 16:25
On the afternoon of August 26, the Russian army shelled the Dobropillya community in Donetsk region, which resulted in a power outage and damage to energy infrastructure.
The attack was reported by the head of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine, Mykhailo Volynets, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to him, at the time of the attack, 148 miners remained underground and could not get to the surface for some time due to the power outage.
Casualties and destruction
DTEK later confirmed the death of one employee. Three others sustained injuries of varying severity.
“The enemy strike damaged the company’s buildings and equipment. Emergency services are currently working,” the company said in a statement.
As of this afternoon, all miners who were underground were brought to the surface.
Situation in the region
The head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration Vadym Filashkin said that over the past day alone, Russian troops fired 20 times at the region’s localities.
- Two residential buildings were damaged in Dobropillya.
- One person was killed and another wounded in Yampil.
- In Kostyantynivka, four people were wounded, 21 multi-storey buildings, two administrative buildings, a bank and two power lines were destroyed or damaged.
- Six private houses were damaged in Siversk.
According to Filashkin, 550 people, including 119 children, were evacuated from the frontline areas over the past 24 hours.
Attacks on mines and energy infrastructure in Donetsk region
Attacks on mines and energy facilities in Donetsk region have been repeatedly targeted by Russian troops since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
- In February 2023, a shelling at the Surgai mine trapped more than 200 miners underground.
- In March 2024, several mines in the Donetsk region lost power after a massive attack on energy facilities, and more than 300 workers were underground.
- In the fall of 2024, explosions in Chystiakove in the occupied territory led to an accident at the Zorya mine, where miners also died.
Energy workers and trade unions emphasize that strikes on mines pose a double threat: they not only kill workers but also create the risk of large-scale accidents and man-made disasters.
