Donetsk, Mar 14 – DAN. DPR began to export coal to Russia, the Republic’s head Alexander Zakharchenko said on Tuesday.
“The first 95 coal train cars went to Russia today,” Zakharchenko said adding that exports would be on track before the summer.
“I’ve already said that the process is long and not easy; it’ll take about two months,” he said.
The Donbass economic blockade took a new turn on January as former participants in Kiev’s punitive operation blocked railway traffic on Gorskoye-Zolotoye (LPR territory) stretch. The radicals said their objective was to terminate trade with the Lugansk People’s Republic.
The blockade later extended to Svetlanovo railway station in vicinity of Pervomaisk, the railway stretch in Kiev-held Armtyomovsk area (DPR territory) and Yasinovataya-Skotovataya stretch. Extremist Ukrainian lawmakers supported the action. Ukrainian radicals have repeatedly said that it was an indefinite blockade.
In response, DPR authorities initiated receivership at the companies operating in the Republic under Ukrainian jurisdiction and began to rearrange export logistics for destinations in Russia.*jk