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22 August, 2025IndustriALL Ukrainian affiliates report a dramatic escalation of attacks on workers and workplaces in recent months. In the first seven months of 2025, because of Russian aggression, 676 workers were injured in their workplaces and 146 workers were killed due to missile and artillery shelling of enterprise territories, airstrikes and FPV drone attacks by the armed forces of the Russian Federation on industrial sites, production facilities and transport vehicles.
Russian attacks continue to devastate Ukraine’s mining towns, leaving mineworkers and their families in extreme danger. Constant shelling and drone strikes block evacuations in Rodynske, Bilytske, Bilozerske, Dobropillya and surrounding villages in the Donetsk region.
On 8 August, shelling provoked flooding of the Dobropilska mine, endangering miners and contaminating the region. Attacks also cut power to the Almazna mine. These mines sustain local economies and their destruction threatens thousands of jobs, livelihoods and environmental safety.
From 13 August and onwards, Russian attacks have resulted in power cuts at three major mines in the region. The bombardments have also prevented workers from relocating critical equipment from enterprises—equipment that preserves jobs, guarantees the right to work, maintains electricity supply and keeps Ukraine’s economy running.
Russian missiles and drones also devastate civilian infrastructure, with the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine expressing grave concern over the mounting civilian toll.
Mykhailo Volynets, chairperson of the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine (NPGU) said:
“Every day, Ukraine’s energy sector and coal mining enterprises have been and remain one of the priority targets of Russian forces. Missile and drone attacks constantly cut off power to mines – putting workers in deadly danger. Every effort is being made to guarantee a stable heating season for 2025–2026, to safeguard the country’s energy security, to keep light in homes and electricity in hospitals and to provide for families. Ukrainian miners truly deserve comprehensive protection and support. Members of the NPGU continue to resist by working at their workplaces, volunteering and defending lives and peace on the frontline. We call on all our brothers and sisters, our sister organizations to continue helping us.”
Dmytro Zelenyi, head of the Dobropillia Local Organization of the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine said:
“I want to emphasize that miners are courageous people as they work deep underground under constant attacks and they are also Defenders of Ukraine at the frontlines. Among our members are refugees from Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk and other mining towns. As a trade union, we are doing everything possible within our means to preserve jobs, support miners and evacuate our members, miners and their families. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing Russian aggression, our resources are decreased. We will be grateful for any assistance to our miners and their families.”
Yaroslava Bytiutska, head of the NPGU Primary Organization at the Tenth Mine Rescue Unit said:
“Just a year ago, I was at home in Myrnohrad (Donetsk region), where my family lived and my grandson went to school. We continued to work there despite Russian shelling, but then we had to evacuate to the city of Dobropillia and now we had to leave there as well. On April 30, the relocation site of our unit in Dobropillia was destroyed. One of our colleagues, Roman, suffered severe injuries and burns. For more than 20 years, Roman saved others and now he himself is in urgent need of treatment and rehabilitation. Today, mine rescuers have become targets for Russian forces. Our colleague, commander of the operational rescue squad Anton Zemlianyi, was killed while saving lives and volunteering to help residents of the Pokrovsk community last June.”
IndustriALL and Ukranian affiliates are demanding urgent intervention.
“We call on the ILO and the international community to act now to protect Ukrainian workers and deliver humanitarian assistance to displaced mineworkers and their families,”
says IndustriALL general secretary, Atle Høie.
On the eve of Ukraine’s mineworkers’ day, 31 August, IndustriALL stands firmly in solidarity with Ukraine’s mineworkers and their families.
“We demand an immediate end to Russia’s war of aggression and occupation,”
expressed Atle Høie.