“Northern Kuzbass”: a year without a salary, a criminal case and promises without a result

In a collective appeal dated October 13, 2026, employees report that payments stopped in October 2025. Since then, most employees do not receive money, and the total debt has reached hundreds of millions of rubles. Many were in a difficult financial situation. At the same time, a significant part of employees do not dare to openly talk about the problem - people are afraid of being fired.

Appeals have already been sent to the Prosecutor’s Office of the Kemerovo Region and Berezovsky, the State Labor Inspectorate, the Governor of Kuzbass, the Ministry of Coal Industry, the Investigative Committee, the bailiff service and a number of media outlets. However, according to the miners, the situation practically does not change, despite the criminal case and the measures taken.

“We ask you to pay attention to our problem and provide assistance in restoring legal labor rights,” reads the appeal to the Governor Ilya Seredyuk, published in VKontakte.

Previously, miners recorded a video message. In it, they noted that many have already left, some have been forced to resign, but the debt to them remains.

There is a criminal case, there is no result

According to employees, a criminal case on non-payment of wages was initiated in May, but it did not bring tangible results.

“Despite the criminal case initiated and the measures taken, the situation practically does not change,” says the author of the appeal Oleg Petrov.

The defendant in the case was the director of the enterprise Stanislav Lupiy.

Difficult situation in the market

The official position of the company, which its representatives voice in comments under the publications of the head of the region, boils down to the fact that “Northern Kuzbass” allegedly cannot repay debts to workers due to the difficult situation on the market. Outraged workers and their families are posting on social media, but the situation has not changed.

Northern Kuzbass mines coal at Pervomayskaya and Berezovskaya mines, owns a processing plant, as well as service and transport enterprises. The company is headed by Stanislav Lupiy, who was previously elected to the council of deputies of the Kemerovo municipal district from United Russia.

Many miners, having lost hope of receiving the money earned, are afraid to talk about problems. This is stated in the statement of activists:

“A significant part of employees are afraid to openly express their position because of the threat of dismissal,” writes Oleg Petrov.

The appeal to the governor was signed by 41 employees.