Ukraine, Kiev / Тrend corr Z. Novosvitski / The Ukrainian President Vladimir Yushenko announced 20 November as the Day of Mourning for the miners who died in the mine named after Zasadko.
"Today I signed an order envisaging 20 November as a National Day of Mourning. I ask all of you to support each of the families who suffered as a result of the explosion," President Yushenko said when visiting the Zasadko mine.
A mixture of air and methane caused an explosion in the Zasadko mine in Donetsk at a depth of 1,078 metres on 18 November at 3.11am. A total of 457 miners were working in the mine. Only 357 escaped the mine and 72 are considered to be dead. The condition of 28 miners is still unknown.