Russia increased the smuggling of coal from the occupied Donbass in October by 13.5%

About 236 thousand tons of coal, smuggled from the occupied Donbass in October 2017, were exported to European countries from Russia, what is 13.5% or 28 thousand tons more than in September of this year (about 208 thousand tons). This is evidenced by the data of Russian Railways and Federal Customs Service, which has LIGA.net.

It is noted that in October, 73% of all smuggling, or 172.9 thousand tons, fell on four Russian firms: Gas Alliance company, Petroleum Capital (both controlled by Serhiy Kurchenko), Trade House Anthracite and Russian Anthracite".

Since July, a number of large companies (in particular, Gas Alliance), which are engaged in the export of coal from the occupied districts of Donbass, do not register such deliveries in Russian customs authorities. In this regard, it is difficult to track the flow of coal on the uncontrolled border with Russia.

According to the Federal Customs Service, state-owned RZD Logistics, which provides logistics services for the export of contraband coal, is listed for all deliveries as the exporting company.

Russian traders continue to register most of the export supplies of contraband coal through offshore companies without specifying the country of destination.

The price of contraband coal at the shipment points - Russian ports or the Brest Central railway station - was between $50 and $100 per ton in October, depending on the type of anthracite. According to the Federal Customs Service, the same coal costs from $25 to $60 per ton on the uncontrolled border of Russia and in the occupied districts of Donbass.