Russia closes in on a key steel producing town in the Ukraine pushing Zelensky close to economic collapse

The Ukraine is about to lose a huge chunk of its GDP when Russia captures the steel producing town of Pokrovsk/

When Pokrovsk falls, it will open a gateway to the Dnipro region and central hinterland of the Ukraine, with the option to cut the Ukraine in two and move on to Kiev.

The Zelensky regime lacks the weapons, ammo and anti aircraft missiles to defend against the Russians.

That should be warning to the IDF, which also relies on the US military.

From media

Russia's seizure of Ukraine's largest coking-coal mine in Pokrovsk can lead to a catastrophic drop in steel production

The Economist reports.

‘Along with its associated plants and administration buildings, the Pokrovsk mine group employs 6,000 people, of whom some 1,000 are currently serving in the armed forces. It is the largest coking-coal mine in Ukraine. Its coal, used for smelting iron ore, is vital for the country’s remaining steel industry,’ the publication explained.

Metinvest, an international group of mining and metals companies with operations in Ukraine, Italy, Bulgaria, the UK and the US, planned to produce 5.3 million tonnes of coal at the mine in 2024.

‘In 2023 Ukraine’s steel plants produced 6.2m tonnes of crude steel. In 2021 though, before the loss of the two Mariupol plants, Ukraine had produced 21.4m tonnes. In 2021 Ukraine was the world’s 14th largest steel producer but last year it had tumbled to 24th,’ the report said.

According to analyst Andriy Buzarov, even without the physical seizure of the mine, Russia can paralyse its operation by interrupting power supply and shelling transport routes. According to his forecasts, the next target could be a mine in Dobropillya.

According to Ukrmetallurgprom CEO Oleksandr Kalenkov, the loss of the Pokrovsk mine could reduce steel production to 2-3 million tonnes in 2024 instead of the projected 7.5 million tonnes. This will lead to significant economic losses, given that steel accounted for a third of Ukraine's exports before the war

https://global.espreso.tv/russia-ukraine-war-how-loss-of-pokrovsk-will-affect-ukrainian-steel-industry-the-economist-explains