On February 25, 2025, several noteworthy achievements highlighted the events from the Kuzbass region, showcasing both industrial accomplishments and community pride.
The mining sector saw significant progress as the crew led by Sergey Shmalts of the A.D. Ruban mine became the first within the 'SUEK-Kuzbass' to surpass the half-million ton mark for coal production this year. This milestone was reached at the Blessed Deep site, where over 4.7 million tons of coal are available. The team’s impressive output from face number 807 was enabled by advanced extraction machinery, consisting of 175 support sections and high-performance coal-cutting equipment. This year, Shmalts's brigade not only led the company with 2.8 million tons of coal mined but also earned accolades as the 'Best Clearing Brigade' at the prestigious regional contest 'Kuzbass – the Coal Heart of Russia,' organized by the Kuzbass government.
Engineer Alexander Zhadanov of the A.D. Ruban Mining Management expressed his pride, stating, "Our workers are true professionals. They strive to meet their targets ahead of schedule. We are about to reroute mechanized equipment and introduce the next working site at face number 805. Therefore, we have promising prospects and do not plan to stop." Following Shmalts's team, the second place for extraction rates this year is held by Anatoly Kaygorodov’s crew from the V.D. Yalevsky Mine, achieving 455,000 tons, followed closely by Igor Malakhov’s brigade from the November 7 Mine, which has extracted over 420,000 tons this year.
On the sports front, workers from 'SUEK-Kuzbass' secured the silver medal at the Baikal Cup, which took place from February 25 to 27, 2025. This annual ice hockey tournament, supported by the Melnikov Foundation, saw teams representing several regions including Kuzbass, Buryatia, and the Khakass Republic compete vigorously, with two teams from Kuzbass participating. The competition featured eight teams, aiming for top honors over two days.
The team from 'SUEK-Kuzbass' had been preparing rigorously throughout the year, previously clinching prizes at the interregional mini-hockey tournament, where 'Leningrad's PTU' took home the second place trophy. “We faced strong opponents, many of whom have recently retired from professional play. The semifinal was entirely based on Kuzbass teams, and we competed directly against colleagues to reach the finals,” remarked Ilya Verchuk, goalkeeper for 'Leningrad's PTU'.
Despite the loss to the Tugnuisk Cargo Transport Management team from Buryatia, who retained the winner’s cup, the players from 'SUEK-Kuzbass' remained optimistic about their future performance. Anton Sipaev, who played as defender and was named as the tournament's best defender, shared his pride, “I even managed to score during one of the matches, all the way from defense.” The event also featured exhibition matches with legends of Russian hockey, including notable players such as Andrei Nikolishin and Dmitriy Sychev.
Adding to the regional culture, the 'Defenders of the Fatherland' recital competition was held commemoratively for the 80th anniversary of Victory Day. This event gathered approximately 1,500 young participants from across Kuzbass, from grade one through eleven, showcasing their poetic talents and tributes to the Great Patriotic War.
Judges awarded various categories to outstanding speakers, including Yuliya Komarova from the Novokuznetsk district, Sergey Bolshakov from the Proshlenkovsky municipality, and Semyon Borovikov from Novokuznetsk. Noteworthy prizes were presented by Vitaliy Dorofeyev, a veteran and member of the Kuzbass Writers' Union, recognizing the students' heartfelt performances and their expression of patriotism.
These events exemplify not only the industrial progress and sports enthusiasm of the Kuzbass region but also its dedication to cultural heritage and community engagement.