At least 41 miners were trapped underground after a Ukrainian strike hit a coal mine in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region, a Moscow-installed official said on Monday.
According to Leonid Pasechnik, the strike targeted the Bilorichenska coal mine, damaging a power substation and cutting electricity supply, which left workers stranded below ground.
"All the relevant services are taking steps to rescue the miners and restore power to the mine," Pasechnik said.
He added that contact had been established with the trapped miners and that they had access to drinking water, raising hopes for a safe rescue.
The incident comes amid continued cross-border strikes in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with infrastructure sites increasingly coming under attack.
