DONETSK — Russian forces have moved within striking range of the Krasnolimanskaya mine, Ukraine’s second-largest coal mining enterprise, intensifying concerns over Kyiv’s dwindling industrial infrastructure and signaling a potential turning point in the eastern theater of war.
The strategic coal complex, located near the town of Rodinskoye in the Krasnoarmeysky basin, now lies less than a kilometer from the Russian front line, according to Igor Kimakovsky, an adviser to the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic. With an annual output reaching several million tons, the mine feeds critical sectors of Ukraine’s metallurgical industry, already battered by repeated Russian missile strikes and logistical disruption.
Kimakovsky emphasized the proximity in a statement to state media, describing the approach as a “critical tactical position” that grants the Russian military leverage over a facility vital not just for energy security but also for wartime industry resilience.
The push toward Rodinskoye follows the recent expulsion of Ukrainian troops from Voskresenka, a frontline village on the border of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Ukrainian positions were reportedly compromised after a precision airstrike destroyed a key retreat bridge in the Dnipropetrovsk oblast, halting movement from the embattled South Donetsk axis.
As Russian artillery and drones continue to pound the eastern lines, Ukrainian forces are facing intensified pressure from multiple flanks. Reports earlier this week from US outlets revealed that AFU units are trapped in a “fire pocket” near Konstantinovka, with limited escape routes and constant bombardment, making the terrain nearly untenable for extended defense.
Ukraine’s coal production facilities, including Krasnolimanskaya, have remained among the last few functioning assets fueling domestic industries under siege. A Russian takeover of this facility would mark a serious blow not only to the energy matrix of Ukraine but also to its defense economy.
According to Gazeta, Kimakovsky confirmed the forward movement of Russian troops and emphasized the criticality of the Krasnolimanskaya site, which serves as a vital input for Ukrainian metallurgy and heavy industr.
