8 August 2014
“Unknown armed individuals,” as characterized by power giant DTEK (DTEKUA), stole more than 5,000t of high-quality coal from two coal mines located in towns of Sverdlovsk and Rovenky of Luhansk region, the holding’s press-service reported on Aug. 7. Bandits are also terrorizing residents in Sverdlovsk and Rovenky, where DTEK’s biggest mines for anthracitic coal are located, according to the release. The local police haven’t acted to stop the crimes, the release said.
A day before, another company controlled by Rinat Akhmetov, steel holding Metinvest (METINV), reported that unknown people stole 3,000t of steel products from its Makiyivka steel factory located near the city of Donetsk.
Alexander Paraschiy: It seems like the fighters from Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics are pursuing careers in trading steel and coal, though it’s unclear how can they handle about 45 railcars with steel products and 70 railcars with coal at a total market price of about USD 2.2 mln. These reports either reveal there’s deep chaos reigning in those locations of Donbas controlled by the terrorists, or that Akhmetov or the managers of his companies are providing aid to the terrorists.
In the first hypothesis, we expect the chaos to end soon with the victory of pro-Ukrainian forces, given that the local population is increasingly resentful of the terrorists and their chances to entrench themselves in the occupied regions are very low. If the second hypothesis is true, we should be prepared for a long-lasting military operation and Akhmetov and his Metinvest/DTEK managers should be bracing themselves for possible sanctions for financing the terrorists.