“If we have a cost price of 650 hryvnia per ton (about $65/mt) without VAT, the price will be raised to 1,100 hryvnia per ton (about $85), then the balance will be at the price of buying this coal,” he said, adding that “it will still be cheaper than buying it from abroad the way we do now.” Zyukov elaborated that he is in talks with the management of the mines who are negotiating with the authorities of the selfproclaimed republics. He pointed out that the money paid for the coal “should go under control” and given directly to the miners “for us to understand that this money will be used for paying salaries and above all for paying the energy bills and solving the social issues in mining towns.”