"Ukraine War Adds to Russia's Coal Basin Woes: Closed Mines and Pollution"

The coal-mining region of Kemerovo in Russia is facing economic decline, obsolete mine facilities, and pollution, exacerbating the struggles of its residents. The toll from Russia's invasion of Ukraine is hitting impoverished regions like Kemerovo even harder, with at least 46 men from the city of Prokopyevsk having died in the war. Many of the casualties are buried in a special section of a cemetery, with graves so close together that wreaths appear intertwined. The allure of war wages and compensation for the dead draw capable young and less-young men, further draining the region of able workers. The region also suffers from chronic health problems due to heavy industrial emissions.