The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine has allocated an additional sum worth almost UAH 340 million for the coalmen of state-run mines. This was announced by the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal at a Government session on Wednesday, July 1.

"This means that for the first time in a long time the state has no debts to miners of state-owned mining enterprises currently," the Head of Government stressed, adding that "arrears have been repaid to almost 40,000 workers who perform herculean work every day."

"The President gave a commission to solve the problem of wage arrears, and we have managed to fulfill the task despite the coronavirus-inflicted crisis and despite the energy crisis. In the future, I will ask the acting Minister of Energy to closely monitor the situation and, if necessary, make a decision very quickly," the Prime Minister concluded.

According to the data provided by the Ministry of Energy, on June 26, the Ministry of Finance, on the proposal of the Ministry of Energy, made an approximation of budget allocations for the program "Restructuring of the coal industry" from November - December to June. The sum worth UAH 339 million is directed to repay arrears of wages to miners in April and May 2020. Over 6 months of 2020, coal mining enterprises have been transferred a UAH 3.5 billion resource for the payment of wages and repayment of arrears.