Kostenko Mine Tragedy: One Year Has Passed

Today marks exactly one year since the tragedy at the Kostenko mine, which claimed the lives of 46 miners. Relatives gathered at the mine to honor the memory of their loved ones and lay flowers at the memorial.

The atmosphere was somber and mournful; only grief and pain could be felt.

Alena Paramonova lost her father, brother, and uncle. Paramonova says that she does not want to be near the mine to this day, as it is only a painful reminder.

We have lived through this year terribly. My brother, by luck, was not caught in the explosion. He was on sick leave. But he passed away from cancer. And my father and uncle died here. Sergei Kiselev and Sergei Bobryashov. And my brother stood where they took out the bodies and helped identify them. My father was one of the last to be taken out. Time goes by, and I begin to miss him more and more. I don’t even drive past the mine because I remember those days, how we sat and waited. I spent two days at the mine. I went to where my father’s personal belongings were hanging, clutched them, prayed that he was alive. Then, when we realized on the second day that they wouldn't get them out alive, I asked that he at least be whole. I saw my father, what he looked like. And when one comes to the mine, it’s as if you’ve come here again to wait. On the day of the tragedy, we didn’t sleep until three in the morning. The supervisors didn’t let us sleep, we constantly had to write something when we had to mourn, when we had to prepare for the funeral. They made us fill out some documents, absolutely ridiculous. Supposedly we had to give hand in some things and indicate the sizes. But it was unnecessary. Simply stealing our time. It was just smoke in the eyes. There is resentment and anger toward the higher management and the authorities. Not the mine. Dad worked there for 30 years. And for some reason they put five years less on his seniority. 

Ekaterina Mordasova, the daughter of miner Vitaly Mordasov, is still displeased that management was late in notifying them:

My dad has been working here since he was 18. I have only one question: why did they keep quiet, already knowing that they were gone? They knew it as of nine in the morning, if not earlier. My father was found almost at seven in the morning, and they told us that he was gone only at nine in the evening. So, you see, this anticipation, to stress us out? They only told us later. My father was the very first on the list. Now it is very difficult to go there, to the place where my relatives died, from where they were carried out. We saw them off alive, they left and never came back. Every day it only gets worse because you realize that this person will not come back. Ekaterina Mordasova

Dmitry Gudz's parents, who also worked at the Kostenko mine for many years, remember his pride:

Dima also worked here for 31 years. Our mine was always the best, the most advanced. - And all the time, only attention was paid to safety. We never even thought that something like this could happen. Well, what can we do now... We can only say: 'God rest our son's soul and the souls of all the miners who died.' This is our home - the mine. So, we cannot speak ill of anything. Dima loved his mine all his life. No matter what mine they sent him to - Saranskaya, Kuzembaeva - always: 'There is no better mine, no better place than ours at Kostenko,' He always loved it, always was proud, recalls Nadezhda Gudz.

At other enterprises even the pay was higher, but he loved this particular mine, he said that it was better at his own. For me, too, the mine remained my home... When it is necessary, I will go there without any problems. Who did not watch over this - that is another question,  adds Kazimir Gudz.

The memory of the miners lives on in the hearts of their families, but unanswered questions remain.

The management of Qarmet also laid flowers at the memorial in honor of the deceased miners.

Original Author: Inna Rutz