Russia Continues to Export Coal From Occupied Luhansk to International Markets Despite Sanctions

Coal extracted from the temporarily occupied Luhansk region by Russia continues to be exported to various countries despite ongoing sanctions, according to, according to the Eastern Human Rights Group.

“Companies operating in the occupied Luhansk region are exporting coal to Turkey, Indonesia, Egypt, Algeria, and Uzbekistan, despite existing export restrictions. This information appears in reports from the Russian occupation’s customs service,” the group stated.

Additionally, the reports indicate that China, India, Latvia, and Turkey are importing equipment, land transportation vehicles and parts, rubber, nonwoven materials, and pulp products from the occupied territories.

“It’s important to note that this coal is shipped under different documentation, meaning the recipient countries may be unaware of its true origin,” the Eastern Human Rights Group added.

It was recently reported that Russia plans to initiate coal exports from the occupied Donbas region starting in October, according to Russian media. The company “Trading House Don Coal” is reportedly preparing to use the port of Mariupol to facilitate these operations.

Ukraine’s coal mining industry has historically been one of the country's most significant sectors, particularly in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. Before Russia’s invasion in 2014, Ukraine produced around 80 million tons of coal annually, with a large portion of it supporting energy and steel industries both domestically and for export.