Russian forces 'legalize' seizure of mines in occupied Luhansk region

Artem Lysohor, head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, reported this. 

Over the next four years, mines are allowed to be transferred to private ownership without any tenders.

"Deputies of the so-called People's Council of the 'LPR' have amended the 'law on the peculiarities of regulating property and land relations in the territory of the republic'. From now on, and until January 2028 inclusive, the rights to own or use property complexes of coal industry enterprises that are state-owned by the LPR can be transferred without bidding. In short, they will give the mine to whomever they want, without the possibility of competition," wrote Lysohor.

He recalled that in 2014, the Russian forces "nationalized" coal mining enterprises but did not invest in their development, instead, some of them were flooded and their employees were sent to fight against Ukraine on the front line.

"Mines with rich production are now, so to speak, being privatized by those who need them. They will buy them for a song. Then they will decide whether to invest money or make money on scrap metal," he summarized. 

• In September, the relevant Russian ministry announced that the number of coal mining enterprises in the temporarily occupied Luhansk and Donetsk regions had been reduced from 114 to only 15. Thus, almost 100 mines were recognized by the Russians as unprofitable.