What does external control mean in Donbass. External management at Ukrainian enterprises

External control is introduced from March 1 at all Ukrainian enterprises on the territory of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, if these enterprises were not registered in the DPR and LPR. This decision was made by the heads of the republics in response to the transport blockade of Donbass.

At the end of January, a group of former participants in the military operation in the Donbass, including deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, blocked freight railway communication with the territory of Donbass not controlled by Kyiv at a number of sections. They stated that, in their opinion, any trade with the self-proclaimed republics is illegal. The blockade led to interruptions in the supply of anthracite coal, which is mined in the territories of Donbass not controlled by Kyiv. In this regard, the Ukrainian authorities were forced to introduce emergency measures in the energy sector in order to save resources, and a number of industrial enterprises- stop production.

On Monday, the heads of the LPR and DPR announced that the self-proclaimed republics would stop supplying coal to Kyiv if the railway blockade continued. In addition, they promised that if the blockade is not lifted before 00.00 on March 1, then external management will be introduced at all enterprises of Ukrainian jurisdiction operating in the DPR and LPR.

Production stopped due to transport blockade large enterprises Donbass on both lines of contact. Among them are the Enakievo Metallurgical Plant in the DPR and Krasnodonugol in the LPR, which are part of the Metinvest group owned by Ukrainian businessman Rinat Akhmetov.

"The Yenakiyevo Metallurgical Plant, some other enterprises have stopped working, they need to be launched. And if they are not re-registered by Wednesday, then they all pass under our control completely. This also applies to stadiums and hotels," the head of the DPR, Alexander Zakharchenko, told the press -conferences.

At emergency meetings on Monday, the parliamentarians of the DPR and LPR adopted appropriate changes to the legislation. They allow the introduction of external management at enterprises of Ukrainian jurisdiction that will not be registered on the territory of the republics before March 1.

Also, the DPR and LPR announced the creation of special headquarters to control the transfer of enterprises of Ukrainian jurisdiction under external control. The LPR stressed that the employees of these enterprises will retain their positions.

"The created headquarters does not intend to keep enterprises afloat, but to promote them further development and reorientation towards Russia," said Vladimir Degtyarenko, chairman of the People's Council of the LPR.

The organizers of the trade blockade immediately stated that they did not intend to stop the action, on the contrary, they planned to "expand the geography of the blockade."

"The headquarters of the blockade calls on the patriots of Ukraine to come to the aid of the garrisons of the redoubts and plans to immediately expand the geography of the blockade by blocking the last routes where blood trade streams still exist," the headquarters of the trade blockade activists said.

In Kiev, the ultimatum of the heads of the self-proclaimed republics was called an attempt to freeze the conflict in the Donbass and stated that coal, which is produced in the territory not controlled by Kiev, is Ukrainian and should not be the subject of blackmail.

"Today they are using the scenario of a frozen conflict and a repetition of the Transnistrian scenario in the Donbass. And who will suffer from this? Ukraine and Ukrainians," Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said.

The Ministry for the Affairs of the Temporarily Occupied Territories warned that the heads of Ukrainian enterprises who agreed to "nationalization" by the authorities of the DPR and LPR would be held criminally liable "for financing terrorism."

"Most likely, unfortunately, if these threats are realized (about "nationalization" - ed.), then their future is complete destruction. Secondly, I want to appeal to the heads of these enterprises so that they do not forget that in case and the commission of such actions, personally the heads of these enterprises will be subject to criminal liability," said Deputy Minister of Ukraine for the Temporarily Occupied Territories Heorhiy Tuka.

In turn, some heads of enterprises located in the territories controlled by the DPR and LPR stated that they would work only within the framework of Ukrainian legislation.

"The company has worked, is working and will continue to work exclusively within the framework of Ukrainian legislation, this is our principle, which has been used all these years and, I think, will be used," said Maxim Timchenko, CEO of Ukraine's largest private energy company DTEK.

"Nationalization" of enterprises under Ukrainian jurisdiction will only exacerbate the conflict in Donbass and will have serious consequences for the factories themselves and their workers, representatives of the Ukrainian opposition said. In their statement, they noted that "nationalization" will not solve the problem of enterprises: they will be left without legal contracts, and their employees without work and livelihoods.

According to the leader of the "Opposition Bloc" Yury Boyko, the current situation is the consequences of the delay in the implementation of the Minsk agreements. And the trade blockade of Donbass and "nationalization" will further "push" these territories away from Ukraine.

"No concrete actions have been taken to end the blockade. The blockade does not contribute to the return of people and territories, but rather creates conditions for their separation. We were categorically against the blockade and expected decisive action from the authorities. "Nationalization" of enterprises is pushing away part of the country, and we are also against it," Boyko said.

In turn, the representative of Kyiv in the political subgroup on Ukraine, Olga Aivazovskaya, said that the introduction by the authorities of the DPR and LPR of external management at enterprises under Ukrainian jurisdiction would affect the negotiation process to resolve the conflict in Donbass.

"If there is a nationalization of Ukrainian enterprises in the occupied territories, this will negatively affect the Minsk negotiations. Ukraine will lose legal control over enterprises, and the situation will also affect employees of enterprises. Any nationalization is a signal of a potential freezing of the conflict," Aivazovskaya said.

Representatives of Donbass explain that the decision to introduce external management at Ukrainian enterprises is a forced one. The primary task is to resume their work and save jobs. This, according to the head of the DPR Alexander Zakharchenko, will take about two months.

"In a short time, we will have to rebuild the industry, change sales markets. The main task is to ensure the smooth operation of enterprises, wages and work for the workers of these enterprises," Zakharchenko said.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade of the DPR emphasized that there is no doubt that it will be possible to reorient enterprises from the Ukrainian market to the markets Russian Federation and other countries, no. In addition, the transfer of all enterprises - non-residents under the republican jurisdiction will only expand the range of foreign trade relations of the DPR.

"Despite the difficulties with the political recognition of the republic, our enterprises are quite successfully cooperating with the countries of near and far abroad. In fact, our manufacturers began the process of moving away from Ukrainian markets in favor of other countries more than two years ago. The state has some experience in this , and there are business circles," the acting director noted. Minister of Industry and Trade of the DPR Alexei Granovsky.

In April 2014, the Ukrainian authorities launched a military operation against the self-proclaimed LPR and DPR, which declared independence after the coup in Ukraine in February 2014. According to the latest UN data, more than 10 thousand people became victims of the conflict.

The issue of resolving the situation in Donbass is being discussed, including during meetings in Minsk of the contact group, which since September 2014 has already adopted three documents regulating steps to de-escalate the conflict. However, even after the armistice agreements between the parties to the conflict, skirmishes continue.

In the Luhansk People's Republic, external management was to be introduced at three coal mining enterprises owned by Akhmetov: at Krasnodonugol PJSC, DTEK Rovenkianthracite LLC, and DTEK Sverdlovanthracite. The functions of temporary administration at enterprises in both self-proclaimed republics will be performed by Donetsk-based CJSC Vneshtorgservis.

The head of DTEK Sverdlovanthracite, Natalya Novoselova, told RBC that the company's enterprises operate "in normal mode” and that the decision of the LPR authorities did not affect the work of the enterprise. “Everyone is at work. Nothing happened for us personally, ”Novoselova said.

Akhmetov's losses

Akhmetov's companies are merged into the SCM group. According to the official websites of the SCM group and its constituent companies DTEK and Metinvest, there are 47 enterprises and companies of the group in the territory of the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR. From the Metinvest group, the “risk group” includes ten mining metallurgical companies. The largest of them are the Komsomolsk Mining Administration, the Khartsyzsk Pipe Plant, and the Enakievsky Metallurgical Plant (EMZ). According to Metinvest's report for 2016, YeMZ became the group's third plant in terms of production of pig iron (1.8 million tons) and steel (1.9 million tons). DTEK, also part of the SCM group, may lose thermal power plants located on the territory of the self-proclaimed republics, RBC reported earlier.

According to a source close to Metinvest, the mining and metallurgical enterprises of the holding in the territory not controlled by Ukraine brought him about $1.5 billion in annual export earnings. At the same time, enterprises in Ukraine itself also depend on their supplies. Thus, the termination of coal supplies from PJSC Krasnodonugol, which is part of Metinvest, will lead to a decrease in coke production at Ukraine's coking plants by 1 million tons per year, and two large metallurgical plants of the holding in Mariupol and Zaporozhye. Due to the shutdown of Metinvest's factories and enterprises in uncontrolled territory, Ukraine as a whole could lose $2.4 billion in foreign exchange earnings per year and up to 45,000 jobs, RBC's interlocutor cites the company's calculations.

Workers on the territory of the Enakievsky Metallurgical Plant (Photo: Igor Maslov / RIA Novosti)

In addition, there is a risk that Metinvest's Avdeevka Coke and Chemical Plant (AKHZ) will shut down due to a power outage from the Zuevskaya TPP. AKHZ supplies raw materials to the second largest steel plant of the holding - Mariupol Iron and Steel Works them. Ilyich. If it is stopped due to a shortage of raw materials, the company's export revenue will decrease by another $2.4 billion.

Representatives of Metinvest and DTEK declined to comment.

​Prospects for working with Russia

Alexander Zakharchenko said on March 1 that the DPR planned to receive raw materials from Russia for Ukrainian enterprises this week, where the authorities of the republic introduced external management: “We will receive raw materials from the Russian Federation. This process is being talked about. Earlier, he said that the products of enterprises are planned to be sent to Russia.

Russian companies will probably not buy raw materials from enterprises controlled by the DPR and LPR, fearing sanctions, suggests Maxim Khudalov, director of the ACRA corporate ratings group. He draws attention to the fact that not all of these products are generally in demand in Russia. Thus, the products of the Enakievsky Metallurgical Plant, taking into account the increase in the cost of supplying Russian raw materials, will also turn out to be more expensive than Russian ones, the expert points out. He believes that metal products of factories in small batches through small traders will be exported through Russian ports to the traditional Russian and Ukrainian markets of Turkey and the Middle East.

As a trader in the coal market and a source close to one of the metallurgical companies told RBC, the Russian NLMK had previously purchased a batch of coking coal grade K, which is in short supply on the Russian market, in the DPR, from Donetskstal, owned by businessman Viktor Nusenkis. The Ministry of Energy of Russia confirmed NLMK's purchases of coal in Ukraine: a representative of the department, referring to the data of the Central Control Department of the Fuel and Energy Complex, said that NLMK imported 78 thousand tons of coking coal from Ukraine.

An NLMK representative declined to comment on coal imports from Ukraine. “NLMK is a major Russian consumer of coal, its purchases in Ukraine may be a way to achieve more favorable conditions from Russian coal miners,” says BCS analyst Oleg Petropavlovsky.

The representative of the association of Russian metallurgists "Russian Steel" declined to comment.

Head of the DPR Alexander Zakharchenko (left) during a visit to the Donetsk Metallurgical Plant (Photo: Viktor Drachev / TASS)

Phantom of recognition

Minister of Justice of Ukraine Pavlo Petrenko called the introduction of external management at enterprises nationalization and promised to include this fact in Ukraine's international lawsuits against Russia. Petrenko expressed confidence that the actions of the authorities of the DNR and LNR are directed from Moscow. Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov said that although Russia has influence on the authorities of the DPR and LPR, it should not be overestimated.

Moscow defends the decision of the heads of the self-proclaimed republics, explaining that they were placed in difficult conditions by a trade blockade organized by volunteer battalions and deputies of the Ukrainian parliament from the opposition Samopomich faction. In January, blockade activists blocked the railway communication, which led to the cessation of coal supplies to Ukraine from territories not controlled by Kyiv. Under the conditions of the blockade, the heads of the DPR and LPR had to ensure the functioning of enterprises, save jobs, explained Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The Ukrainian authorities condemn the blockade, but take no action to unblock the routes. On Wednesday, Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman approved the list of goods and the organization of their transportation from uncontrolled territories to Ukraine, but the activists did not report their readiness to unblock the routes.

The introduction of external management at enterprises in the DPR and LPR was one of the topics at the next meeting of the trilateral contact group in Minsk, but none of the parties proposed specific solutions.

RBC's source in Russian diplomatic circles, when asked whether further recognition of the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR by Russia is possible, said that "there is no need to hurry yet." Nevertheless, he said that in the current conditions, the Minsk negotiations "finally reached an impasse" and "with such a configuration, it is not very clear what to talk about next." He did not rule out reformatting the negotiations, including new issues on the agenda, in particular, how Ukrainian enterprises “nationalized” by the DPR and LPR would work, but, according to him, “everything will depend on Kiev’s further steps.”

According to Leonid Kalashnikov, head of the parliamentary committee on CIS affairs, any scenario is possible, up to the recognition of the independence of the republics, if Kyiv switches to active hostilities.

Political scientist Alexei Makarkin predicts the Transnistrian rather than the Abkhazian and South Ossetian scenario. “On the one hand, Russia officially considers Pridnestrovie a part of Moldova and does not recognize its independence, on the other hand, it builds its own, including economic, relations with it,” he told RBC. The recognition of the DPR and LPR entails too great risks for Russia, the expert is sure.

The decision to introduce external governance is a move towards separating Donbass from Ukraine, but the main affected party is Rinat Akhmetov, says Ukrainian political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko. He draws attention to the fact that representatives of the LPR and DPR have not nationalized the enterprises, but for now they are only introducing management and demanding that taxes be paid on their territory, and this does not mean that enterprises will stop paying taxes to the Ukrainian budget. Ukraine, according to the expert, has not yet suffered significant financial losses. He assumes that the Kyiv authorities will not take active steps to lift the blockade, but will wait until the situation calms down by itself, over time, Akhmetov and his enterprises can also agree on working conditions with representatives of the LPR and DPR.

With the participation of Polina Khimshiashvili, Anton Baev, Elena Smirnova, Sergey Vitko

So the day that the Bolsheviks spoke about came - the day of the nationalization of the enterprises of Akhmetov and other owners of Donbass, which remained such for almost three years after the proclamation of the people's republics only by a tragic coincidence.

The authorities of the republics, however, are still trying to avoid words such as “nationalization” that are terrible for the ear of the bourgeoisie, they call this the introduction of external control. But in essence it will be nationalization, although it can stretch over time, and the former owners will be able to maintain a certain influence through gray schemes.

The point is this: external management means that the enterprise begins to work for the republic, i.e. to a "terrorist organization" in Ukrainian terms. Accordingly, its owner, a law-abiding citizen of Ukraine, cannot be the owner of an enterprise and profit from activities that sponsor “terrorism”. So he should give up that venture. This is nationalization.

The attack on the Donetsk oligarchs turned out to be sharp. Although no less harsh than the blockade, which in less than a month has become a real threat number one for the Ukrainian economy. The authorities of Donbass gave the oligarchs two days to think. However, the day that the Bolsheviks were talking about should have come a long time ago - back in 2014, when the republics were proclaimed and Akhmetov and Co. were offered to decide who they were with.

Akhmetov, after a brief attempt to stall for time in the hope that the republics would fall, made up his mind. in favor of Ukraine. A paradoxical situation has arisen. The republics seem to be people's, but the enterprises of the oligarchs continued to operate in them, moreover, from the aggressor country, paying taxes in that country, including for the war with Donbass. Mariupol, according to most experts, was not taken at the end of the summer of 2014 only because it would bring down Akhmetov's empire, and at the same time the economy of Ukraine. Alas, this had to be done, because otherwise the enterprises would have stopped - and tens of thousands of people would have been left without work, which would be critical for the republics that were in a state of blockade.

But there would be no happiness, but misfortune helped. In the form of demoniac deputies Parasyuk and Semenchenko, who left the republics no choice but to take away the enterprises of the oligarchs and reorient them to Russia. Many Ukrainian propagandists rub their hands, saying that now they will definitely close, because Russia will not buy their products, because. Russia is full of its own coal and steel.

They don't understand one thing. A burden is, of course, a burden, but not so heavy, given that there is no other choice: on the opposite side of the scale, we have the actual surrender of Donbass, which means capitulation in this confrontation in particular and in the global confrontation with the West in general. Russia will not overstrain. Concerning legal issues and questions like “Where to put the products?”, do not worry - we will figure it out, everything is solved.

Moreover, the refusal to lift the blockade, in fact, almost directly speaks of Kyiv's withdrawal from the Minsk process. This, as well as the nationalization of Akhmetov, has long been dreamed of in the republics. Now there is every reason for this. As well as for the return of Mariupol, for which there are no more obstacles. As well as for the return of the entire territory where the referendum was held.

And Akhmetov punished himself. He had three years. But he apparently thought that everything would somehow resolve itself. It was decided. When Akhmetov and Co. supported the Maidan, they hardly thought that with their own hands they were destroying the consensus that allowed them to rule over Ukraine, destroying the civilized rules of the game and creating a country where there are no rules. This is what came back to them. Boomerang.

With the beginning of spring in the DPR and LPR, external management is introduced at enterprises under Ukrainian jurisdiction. Representatives of a headquarters specially created for this, which included deputies of the People's Council, as well as delegates from trade unions and labor collectives, are already visiting factories and mines, taking inventory there, meeting with employees and conducting explanatory work.

According to the head of the DPR Alexander Zakharchenko, about 40 enterprises have already passed under the external control of the DPR. As noted in the republic, the need to solve this problem first arose back in 2014, when the DPR was just created.

Despite the fact that in our declaration of sovereignty it was stated that all enterprises on the territory of the DPR are the property of the republic, in practice this provision could not be fully implemented: we had large metallurgical, coking and chemical enterprises that operated outside the jurisdiction DNR. But after the Ukrainian blockade cut off the supply of raw materials in our direction and finished products from us, the circumstances have acquired the character of force majeure. It was necessary to take some measures, - Boris Litvinov, ex-chairman of the DPR Supreme Council, one of the developers of the DPR declaration of independence, explains the current situation.

According to him, due to the fact that Ukrainian enterprises operated in the DPR, from 1.5 to 2 billion hryvnias were annually sent to Ukraine. The authorities of the republic put up with this in order to save jobs, although salaries were again accrued on Ukrainian territory and 1.5 percent was deducted from it to finance the military operation in the Donbass. But with the blockade set up by the nationalists, Ukraine has placed the governments of the DNR in a near-stalemate.

At first glance, events developed rapidly. After the published joint statement of the heads of the DPR and LPR, Alexander Zakharchenko and Igor Plotnitsky, from March 1, at enterprises under Ukrainian jurisdiction, if the blockade is not lifted, a meeting of the People's Council and the Council of Ministers was urgently convened in the DPR. However, the owners of enterprises were warned about the need to build relations in a new way and pass under the jurisdiction of the DPR a month and a half ago. Apparently, they ignored this warning.

Even when the ultimatum was delivered, none of the Ukrainian owners got in touch with the DPR, and the blockade did not stop.

Today, the blockade by the radicals is more likely to work for us, rather than against. Factories that will not start paying taxes to the budget of the DPR and will not be able to guarantee the work and fulfillment of social obligations to the residents of the Republic will go under external public administration. And we have all the mechanisms to carry out this transition with an automatic reorientation to Russia as quickly and painlessly as possible, - said acting. Minister of Economic Development of the DPR Victoria Romanyuk.

Meanwhile, the republic emphasizes that it is not about nationalization, but about external management. Nationalization requires the adoption of an appropriate law and a detailed resolution of the Council of Ministers. These documents were not adopted and were not even discussed, although the "left" political forces of the republic have a draft of such a law.

I believe that the introduction of external control is the right move. We are already approached by competent specialists who are ready to apply their knowledge and skills in the management of enterprises. And if we recall the potential of the Donetsk region, which brought Ukraine 20 percent of GDP, the potential of these enterprises is quite high. But of course, because of the blockade, there will be some difficult moments. For example, metallurgical plants used to receive raw materials in Krivoy Rog, but now, probably, they need to be reoriented to Stary Oskol. For the coke-chemical industry, special grades of coal will also have to be imported from Russia. Our coal for coking may not be enough, - argues Boris Litvinov.

However, in general, the beginning of changes are positively perceived in the republic. Moreover, hopes for recovery are associated with them. economic potential Donbass.

The time has come for enterprises that are located on the territory of the DPR to bring revenues to our budget, and not give them to Ukraine. For this, the necessary the legislative framework, and over the past two years, new chains for obtaining resources and marketing products have been created and worked out,” says Miroslav Rudenko, deputy of the People’s Council of the DPR.

For more than two years, during which the blockade has lasted, we have learned how to systematically rebuild our economy towards the Russian Federation, - Victoria Romanyuk agrees with him. - Many domestic enterprises already have access to foreign markets and maintain foreign trade relations with more than 60 countries. The DPR exports abroad products of machine-building, metallurgical, chemical, food, pharmaceutical, and light industries. Besides, energetic resources And production potential Republic will allow us not only to provide ourselves with all necessary conditions for the full functioning of society, but also to establish strong economic ties with a number of states interested in our products.

By the way, there is good news for employees of enterprises that are subject to external management: the payroll fund will be fully preserved for them. Who wants to stay to work, can do it. Moreover, some enterprises will increase the duration working week, which was reduced due to the blockade, which means that the income of workers will also increase. But, as noted in the DPR, management tied to the structures of Ukrainian oligarchs will most likely have to be abandoned.

Now the most important thing is to clarify the situation to people and calm them down so that there are no unrest, since there is a real danger that Ukrainian business owners will try to destabilize the situation, - says Miroslav Rudenko.

On March 1, the authorities of the self-proclaimed republics of Donbass began to introduce the so-called "temporary external management" at those local enterprises that continue to operate under Ukrainian laws and are registered in the territory controlled by Kiev. It's about about plants, mines and companies - including those that are part of the System Capital Management (SCR) group of companies, which combines the assets of Rinat Akhmetov.

First casualties

According to the head of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR") Alexander Zakharchenko, 40 enterprises will fall under the control of "external management", most of which relate to the fuel and energy complex and metallurgy. The "Luhansk People's Republic" ("LPR") also does not specify a specific list of enterprises, although they note that it includes at least three enterprises of Rinat Akhmetov: Krasnodonugol from the Metinvest holding and two DTEK mines - Rovenkianthracite and " Sverdlovanthracite".

Thus, the business of Akhmetov's SCM group is almost the main object of "temporary external control" of the separatists. According to the Ministry of Economic Development, out of the 20 largest industrial enterprises in the regions of Donetsk and Lugansk regions not controlled by Kiev, employing more than 70 thousand workers, 17 are part of DTEK and Metinvest, and three more are part of the ISD group owned by deputy Sergei Taruta and a group of Russian investors .

SCM has not yet confirmed the introduction of "external control", although on March 1 they announced the seizure of the Donetsk office of the telecommunications company Ukrtelecom, and the day before - about blocking their own humanitarian aid centers. At the same time, the group confirms that armed groups have been observed near some enterprises since March 1.

Ultimatum

The issue of "nationalization" of Ukrainian enterprises was raised by the authorities of the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR almost from the very beginning of their existence. Almost immediately, the separatists came under the control of state and public utilities in the region - local markets, state mines, energy and heat supply organizations, as well as the fuel business and banking institutions of Igor Kolomoisky, the local branch of the Kyivstar telecom operator.

During 2015-2016, "nationalization" was episodic: for example, in the fall of 2016, "provisional administration" was introduced at the Stalkanat-Silur plant in Khartsyzsk.

However, according to ISD co-owner Sergei Taruta, until recently, the authorities of the self-proclaimed republics did not encroach on enterprises that re-registered in Ukraine in 2014-2015 and paid taxes to the state budget. "The economic subgroup of Minsk has a list of such enterprises. At each of its meetings, the conditions for their work are spelled out. If the separatists interfere, then there is an immediate reaction, and the separatists get hit on the head from the Kremlin," he said in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.

However, in early February of this year, the "people's councils" of the so-called "DPR" and "LPR" simultaneously adopted bills in which, in fact, they put forward an ultimatum to local enterprises operating under Ukrainian laws: either they pay taxes to the self-proclaimed government, or let them prepare for the arrival of "provisional administrations", that is, in fact, to the capture.

Blockade as an excuse

The ultimatum expired March 31st. The leadership of the SCM and the ISD almost immediately announced that they would not accept the conditions of the separatists and would continue to work according to Ukrainian laws. "At first we didn't take this threat seriously," a top manager at one of Metinvest's enterprises in government-controlled territory told DW. (Railway blockade of areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions not controlled by Kyiv by a group of ATO veterans in order to force the authorities in Kyiv to stop coal supplies from the self-proclaimed "DNR" and "LNR." - Red.).

It was precisely because of the blockade, according to the management, that Metinvest was forced to stop the work of the Yenakievsky metallurgical plant and the mines of Krasnodonugol, and the ISD - the metallurgical and coking plants in Alchevsk.

Context

But the blockade also affected the plans of the separatists. On February 27, the leaders of the "DPR" and "LPR" issued a statement in which they called on the Ukrainian government to lift the transport blockade of the "republics" by March 1, threatening to "nationalize" Ukrainian enterprises and stop coal supplies to controlled territories.

Reorientation towards Russia or collapse?

According to the Security Service of Ukraine, enterprises located in the uncontrolled territories paid about UAH 32 billion in taxes to the Ukrainian budget in 2016. Such an amount is extremely sensitive for the budgets of the "DPR" and "LPR", which are almost completely dependent on Russian subsidies, which have recently been reduced.

However, in order to pay taxes, enterprises must operate and sell products. The separatist leadership promises to reorient them to Russian markets sales - in the short term, this will help to overcome the negative consequences of the blockade, and in the long term - to weaken the Ukrainian economy, depriving energy and raw materials.

However, according to the chairman of the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine Mikhail Volynets, the separatists' plans are connected with corruption schemes to bypass the blockade. "Ore, anthracite and coking coal will again be exported to Rostov or Taganrog, and from there they will be delivered by sea to Mariupol under the guise of Russian or South African products in general, as was already the case in 2015. Again, someone will make money on this," he predicts.

Metinvest has already spoken about the need to refocus on Russian coke because of the blockade, while noting a sharp rise in prices for Russian raw materials. According to Oleksandr Kalenkov, president of the industry association Ukrmetallurgprom, the loss of Ukrainian industry from the cessation of supplies of raw materials from regions not controlled by Kyiv in 2017 could amount to $3.5 billion.

According to Mikhail Volynets, the administrations of "external management" of the separatists will not be able to manage the metallurgical and energy enterprises of the region for a long time - due to a lack of qualified personnel and legal claims from the former owners. Georgy Tuka, Deputy Minister for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons, is of the same opinion, predicting that the nationalized factories will simply be "cut into scrap metal."

However, the top management of Metinvest enterprises is afraid of the plans of the separatists. "For several weeks," on the other side "they have been discussing a plan to create on the basis of DTEK, Metinvest and ISD enterprises a single holding Metenergo, which will be handled by people from the Russian government. But we are still not sure whether these are real plans or an element of blackmail ", - added the interlocutor of DW in one of the companies of the holding.

see also:

• Under the crossfire

  Shooting usually begins at sunset. Every night, the line of contact between the parties to the conflict in the Donetsk region is subjected to mortar and machine-gun fire. Elderly residents who do not have the means to leave are regularly caught in the crossfire of the Ukrainian army and pro-Russian separatists. In the photo - a resident of the village of Zhovanki Ivan Polansky in his house, destroyed by shelling.



Conflict in Donbass: Life in the line of fire

Every day in anticipation of the shelling

“Every day you expect a shell to fall on your house, and you don’t know when it will happen,” complains Ludmila Studerikova, who lives in Zhovanka on the line of demarcation between the parties to the conflict in Donbass, while waiting for a doctor’s appointment. Once a week, doctors deploy a mobile first-aid post in the village.



Conflict in Donbass: Life in the line of fire

Without electricity and heating

After the start of the conflict in Donbass in the spring of 2014, the population of Zhovanka decreased from 1,000 to 200 people. Local residents have been without gas and electricity for three months. "Sometimes I'm so scared that I lie in bed at night and shake," says Lyudmila Studerikova.



Conflict in Donbass: Life in the line of fire

Nowhere to go

Even in winter, people continue to live in dilapidated houses with leaky roofs. They have nowhere to go, because after the start of the conflict, rent in neighboring cities has risen sharply. "Rent in Kramatorsk now costs the same as in Kyiv, although salaries are much lower," complains Alexander Voroshkov, coordinator of the Kramatorsk headquarters for assistance to internally displaced persons.



Conflict in Donbass: Life in the line of fire

Hoping for humanitarian aid

Residents of Zhovanka in line for medicines. Food and humanitarian aid are delivered here charity organisations. Those who want to leave the village sometimes have to spend the whole day in line at the checkpoint. “We had everything: fresh air, nature. It was very good here,” recalls Vera Sharovarova, who lives in the village. “Now it’s just cold here.”



Conflict in Donbass: Life in the line of fire

People have adapted to war

The village of Spartak in the Donetsk region is controlled by separatists. According to its resident Vera Anoshina, she adapted to life in the war zone as best she could. "If you don't have water, you find it. If you don't have electricity, you find a way out. But you never know where the next bomb will fall," the woman says.



Conflict in Donbass: Life in the line of fire

Six broken ribs

Another resident of Spartak, Svetlana Zavadenko, was bombarded with debris from the wall during shelling. Several shells exploded right in her yard. Neighbors had to literally dig the woman out from under the rubble. She was taken to the hospital with six broken ribs and a ruptured lung.



Conflict in Donbass: Life in the line of fire

"We have lost hope"

After being discharged from the hospital, Svetlana Zavadenko returned to her village, where she lives alone. Since 2014, Spartak has no electricity, gas or water, so she has to cook on the grill. For firewood, a woman goes to an abandoned furniture factory. "Last winter we thought the war was over, but now, frankly, we have lost hope," she laments.



Conflict in Donbass: Life in the line of fire

Poroshenko is ready to withdraw troops...

Despite numerous unsuccessful attempts establish peace, a ceasefire may be re-declared as soon as possible. After the Normandy Four summit in October, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced that he was ready to stop hostilities in eastern Ukraine and withdraw troops.



Conflict in Donbass: Life in the line of fire

... but the military has a different opinion

But even if the parties to the conflict agree to a truce, they will face resistance from their military. “We have lost too many soldiers to stop now,” says Volodymyr Parkhamovich, Colonel of the 81st Airmobile Brigade of the Ukrainian Army. “If we are ordered (to stop fighting. - Ed.), We will consider this a betrayal.”