Russia plans to start exporting coal from the occupied Donbas region in October, according to Russian media reports.
The shipments will be facilitated through the port of Mariupol, which has been under Russian control since early in the war.
The company behind the initiative, Trading House Don Coal, is leading the effort, and discussions with buyers in China, India, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Malaysia are already underway, according to Oleg Knyazev, the company’s general director.
Andrey Chertkov, from the Russian-installed administration in Donetsk, confirmed the export plans.
Additional routes being considered include the ports of Taganrog and Rostov-on-Don, as well as rail deliveries through Azerbaijan and Iran.
This move comes as Russia aims to strengthen its economic grip on the occupied territories and establish new trade connections, particularly in Asia, amid Western sanctions.
