Loss of control over the strategically important city of Pokrovsk could have an extremely negative impact on the Ukrainian metallurgy and economy as a whole.
This was reported by URA-Inform, citing a statement by the president of the Ukrmetallurgprom association, Oleksandr Kalenkov, which was made in an interview with Ekonomicheskaya Pravda.
The city is a key center for the extraction of coking coal, which is necessary for steel production. If Pokrovsk ends up under the control of the occupiers, Ukraine risks cutting steel production by almost half — from the current 6-7.5 million tons to 2-3 million tons per year.
The main threat is that Pokrovsk is the location of the last mine under Ukrainian control that produces coking coal. This component is vital for steel production, and its shortage will seriously affect the entire industry. Kalenkov noted that Ukraine has been steadily producing about 6 million tons of steel per year for the past two years, and by the end of this year this figure could reach 7.5 million tons. However, if Pokrovsk is lost, the country could lose up to half of this volume.
“The coal shortage will be the main factor that will significantly limit the work of Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises,” Kalenkov emphasized.
This will significantly undermine Ukraine's ability to increase its steel production, which in ideal conditions can reach 12 million tons per year. Thus, the loss of Pokrovsk will be not just a military but also an economic blow, affecting the industrial potential of the country.
Speaking of crisis conditions, it is worth recalling that food prices have increased in Ukraine: the State Statistics Service reported what has increased in price the most.