DTEK energy holding of Rinat Akhmetov stirs up coalminers' protests in western Ukraine, Energy and Coal Industry Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Demchyhsyn told reporters in Kyiv on Wednesday.

"First this is happening in the western region – Lviv and Volyn where we take coal and supply it to Zakhidenergo. My dear DTEK: they do not want that we supply this coal to then, and that's why they use any methods to stimulate people to attack me, go to the streets and do not work. Not to produce coal that I could sell to Zakhidenergo," he said.

The minister added that state-run coalmines shipped 100,000 tonnes of coal to Zakhidenergo (belongs to DTEK), while the mines did not receive payments for this coal.

"This year we again shipped around 80,000 tonnes. They also did not pay," he said.

Demchyhsyn said that in 2016, UAH 500 million was provided from the national budget, and this would allow paying the wage arrears to coalminers.

"In January we received UAH 50 million and UAH 180 will be provided in February. It is enough to pay debts… It is likely that we will receive the money on February 1 or February 2. However, some people have the principal position: this does not suit us. Irrespective of the fact if they produce coal or not, fulfill the target or not. They say: this does not suit us, pay cabbage!" he said.

The minister said that this position could be explained by political motives and a desire to shatter the situation.