Russian strikes trap 148 miners underground in Donetsk region

Russian forces launched shelling on several settlements within the Dobropillia community in the Donetsk region on August 26, leaving a number of local mines without electricity.

The incident was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the chairman of the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine, Mikhail Volynets, as well as information shared by the local Telegram channel “Dobropillia info.”

According to Volynets, the strikes caused a power outage at the mines, trapping 148 miners underground. Efforts to restore electricity and bring the miners safely to the surface are ongoing.

Local residents reported that Dobropillia, Belozerka, Annivka, Iverske, and Sviatohirsk were hit during the attack. Telegram channels from the area noted that Dobropillia itself was struck with four aerial bombs, intensifying the damage and disruptions. The shelling resulted in widespread power outages throughout the community.

Moreover, on August 26, Russian troops shelled Konstantinovka in the Donetsk region, hitting the local fire and rescue station. The blast wave damaged the station’s garage doors, roof, windows, protective grilles, and doors, and one of the fire trucks sustained damage as well.

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian troops have likely abandoned their attempts to break through toward Dobropillia, north of Pokrovsk. Analysts say that the Russian forces failed to secure their positions and were unable to capitalise on their tactics of infiltrating small groups into Ukrainian defensive lines. As a result, they are reportedly shifting the focus of their offensive operations.

This is not the first time the region has been hit. On the night of August 8, another round of shelling by Russian forces in the Donetsk region caused a power outage at the Dobropillia mine, leaving 77 miners underground. All were safely brought to the surface, and no injuries were reported.

In addition, the mining sector has faced other incidents unrelated to shelling. On the night of July 23, a rockfall at the Chervonogradska mine in the Lviv region left one worker with a concussion. Similarly, on the night of July 17, another rockfall occurred at the Lesna mine in the village of Selets, Sheptytskyi district, injuring one miner.

By Tamilla Hasanova