A statement of Energy and Coal Industry Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Demchyshyn that DTEK energy holding stirs up coalminers' protests in western Ukraine is untrue, the press service of DTEK has reported.

"The energy sector in Ukraine in the past 18 months has entered the state of deep crisis, which touched both state-run and private enterprises. The way out of the situation should be tight constructive cooperation of private and public sectors with the ministry and regulator. Attempts to shift responsibility for the situation in the sector do not promote the resolving of the problems of the Ukrainian energy sector," DTEK said.

The holding said that in 2015, DTEK's thermal power plants (TPPs) bought over 580,000 tonnes of coal from state-run coalmines, including over 450,000 tonnes from Lviv and Volyn coalmines.

"The company registered and paid for coal stored at Zakhidenergo's TPPs. The debt of the state to DTEK for electricity generated as of January 1, 2016 reached UAH 4.7 billion. The position of DTEK was and remains unchanged. Ukraine should support own production, burning Ukrainian coal at Ukrainian TPPs. This would ensure the country's energy independence," the holding said.