Russia Strikes Ukrainian Coal Facility in Donetsk for Third Time in Six Weeks

Russian forces launched another strike on a coal enrichment facility in Donetsk region, marking the third attack on the same site in just over six weeks, according to Ukrainian energy company DTEK.

The latest strike occurred on October 8 and follows an earlier attack on a DTEK thermal power plant the same day.

In a statement DTEK confirmed the strike hit a coal processing facility essential to supplying fuel for Ukraine’s thermal power stations.

“Russia attacked our plant in Donetsk, where coal is enriched for thermal power generation,” the company reported, adding that personnel were in shelters at the time and no injuries were recorded.

DTEK emphasized that this is the third large-scale attack on the facility in six weeks, with the damage rendering equipment inoperable. The company has since suspended operations at the site and reassigned affected workers to other locations within its energy network.

The targeted facility is responsible for preparing coal for power generation—a process that increases efficiency and reduces wear on equipment.

According to DTEK, operating thermal power stations (TPS) without enriched coal is technically possible but significantly less efficient. Most Ukrainian TPS units are designed for specific fuel characteristics achieved only through enrichment.

Without processing, coal retains high levels of mineral impurities that cause increased abrasion to fuel supply systems, grinding mills, and boiler surfaces—shortening equipment lifespan and increasing fuel consumption per kilowatt-hour.

Earlier on October 8, Russia also struck a DTEK-operated thermal power station, injuring two workers, according to company reports. The extent of the equipment damage at that facility is still being assessed.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, DTEK thermal power stations have been targeted more than 200 times. The group remains Ukraine’s largest private energy investor, operating across thermal, wind, and solar sectors.

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