MMK, one of Russia's four major steel producers, announced through its coal subsidiary on Friday the closure of a long-term loss-making coal mine, citing persistently deteriorating market conditions.

Russia's coal industry is among the sectors hit hardest by economic slowdown and Western sanctions. Two-thirds of companies in the sector reported losses in 2025. Last year, the government provided some assistance to coal mining firms to maintain their operations.

The Chertinskaya-Koksovaya mine, located in the Kemerovo region of Western Siberia, produced 1.2 million tons of coal in 2025. The company did not disclose the number of employees at the mine.

MMK Coal stated in a press release: "The decision to suspend the mine's operations was influenced by several external factors, including a sharp decline in coal concentrate prices, rising costs, and reduced consumption of coking coal by steelmakers."

The report noted that the mine's production costs had been significantly higher than market prices for multiple quarters. The company added that it would provide employment relocation options for the miners.