Ukraine President vows to resume coal supply from East

Ukraine declared a state of emergency in its energy sector late on February 15, with Energy Minister Ihor Nasalyk calling on all residents and industries to immediately try to save electricity. Despite the hostilities, Kyiv continued to buy coal from areas controlled by separatists as power stations in Ukraine are mostly designed to run on the specific type of coal that is produced there. Sales were suspended when volunteer battalions and some lawmakers blocked a railroad that brings coal across the front line late last month. Poroshenko said the lack of coal from the Donbas risks leaving entire towns without heating. He pledged to resume the supply's flow. Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said about nine out of the 24 million tons of coal that Ukrainian power stations require every year are imported from the separatist-controlled areas.