Through a number of pictures a photographer Alexander Chekmenev tells us about a hard life of Donbass mineworkers. He also provides some comments sharing his memories.
Old apartments of miners lacked central heating. They made themselves warm with the help of coal loaded into small iron stoves.
Cold water was supplied according to a certain time schedule and was available 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening. Hot water supply was stopped.
Miners had to sleep next to the stoves as it was too cold inside. They were short of money and could get some food only at their working place.
Miners said they got used to the awful conditions but could never stop wondering why people who spent their lives on making the entire state warm froze in their apartments.
Common people won’t go out to get some coal for their houses at night and wait for the morning. But it’s not the case for the miners who find life in the dark so common that they can do their house-chores jut whenever they feel like doing that.
Location: Donbass
via prophotos
old fotos
This looks like the illegal mining of the coal. Not uncommon in the backward areas.
But I don’t understand the breaking apart of the aerial bombs and the burning of the explosives. Where are such things found in Donbass??
may be that oldest mining?
a very very hard life.. and not a colors life..
That’s really messed up they don’t have heat and water all the time, even hot water to use to bathe or shower with in Winter. They look like a strong and some even happy people inspite of it. That’s a rough way to work and live.
Wow. These poor people.
Amazing photos, I was looking for them. Dark faces, standing alone, but still, with smile, and no regrets.
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Donbass is in independent Ukraine, correct? I was visiting in West Virginia mines. Doesn’t look that different, but of course there is big difference such as better medical insurance and housing.
Are they mining of some “precious” minerals ? ? ?they are not “forced” labor .they enjoy their work. R I P all of miners ! ! ! ! !
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alexander-Chekmenev-Donbass/dp/3868281851/ref=pd_rhf_p_img_1 Alexander-Chekmenev “Donbass”
Is there small scale coal mining still going on there? Elsewhere in the area?