KYIV, Dec 9 - Coal mines will start receiving funds to pay off wage arrears to miners in the amount of UAH 1.4 billion from December 20 in accordance with law No. 4119 on the financial recovery of Ukrnafta.

This was announced by Deputy Energy Minister Maksym Nemchinov at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on December 9.

"According to our calculations, approximately by December 18 we will receive funds for the special fund of the national budget, and we will start transferring these funds to the mines, to pay wages to miners. This will happen somewhere from December 20," Nemchinov said.