The first coal in Donetsk basin was founde din 1721 already, however first mines were founded in the end of 19th century together with railroad network expansion. The fact caused the real industrial revolution within former agricultural region.
Soon after, in 1913, local mines were producing almost 87% of all soviet coal production. The tendency remained even over one civil and two world wars until the 70´s.

Most of the mines presented here were severely damaged during the russian-ukrainian conflict in 2014.