KIEV, Feb. 14 - Russian coal and steel group Mechel has extended the shutdown at its Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant (DEMZ) in Ukraine until July 1.

"Mechel management has approved an extension of the idling of Donetsk Metallurgical Plant until July 1, 2013. We will contact Mechel's leadership concerning the reasons for the shutdown and how to get out of this situation," said Donetsk Mayor Oleksandr Lukianchenko.

The stoppage has had a ripple effect on the city's economy, he said, noting that a number of enterprises have been forced to reduce output.