According to the deputy minister on uncontrolled territories and refugees Georgi Tuka the issue of coal purchases from the Kiev-uncontrolled districts of Donetsk and Lugansk regions has been over-politicized by the so-called hurrah-patriots.

“Formally this cannot be named a purchase. This is a transportation of the coal mined at one DTEK division to another. There is no money transfer. But this issue is extremely politicized now”, he said. “Whether we like it or not, a third part of Ukraine has to be heated with anthracites, mined on the uncontrolled territory”.

“And when I hear cries to waive this coal, I call it military amateurism. And the matter is not in the light only. We could be left without heating, transport, shops, Internet, and everything that consumes electricity. This is the suggestion to return to Dark Ages”, he said. “What do we do? First of all, we have reoriented Centrenergo to buying coal from outer sources. Then we have agreed with DTEK to partially conduct outer purchases as well. But let’s be honest: we can’t completely refuse buying coal from occupied territories”. (Ukrainian metal)

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