The town of Stebnik is located between Drohobych and Truskavets. Its importance during the Soviet era came from mining and chemical manufacturing. Millions of tons of salt were extracted from the mines every year, but everything changed in 1983, when the dam collapsed and set off an irreversible process.
The practice here dates back to the 12th century. The first major mine in Stebnik, named Kybek in honor of one of the founders of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, reached a depth of 221 meters. Workers went up and down using a ladder, and everything was transported by horses, which quickly went blind from living underground. In those days, the Austrians exploited this territory to the fullest, extracting salt for preserving meat and tanning hides, and later mining potash for fertilizer. But demand for the mine declined in the 1960s-70s; everything began to fall apart, people lost their jobs, and they started leaving the city.
In the 2000s, the situation worsened further, and mines began closing en masse. They could have been restored, but no one was willing to invest the money. It was decided to flood the closed mines so the water would support the soil and prevent it from subsiding. Strangely, no one seems to have considered that the water would dissolve the salt — a decision that ultimately led to an environmental disaster.
The last Stebnik Mine
Today only one mine operates in Stebnik. It is constantly monitored, and workers pump water out of it. The site could become a tourist attraction, but a lack of funding makes it unsafe to stay in the mine for long. Descent is now possible only through the “New” shaft, which itself needs restoration. According to regulations, two shafts should be in operation — one for entry and one for exit.
The doors to the “Kubek” mine shaft are bolted shut and sealed with lead seals. Since it was built, the shaft has been deepened by another 100 meters, reaching roughly 330-340 meters. From time to time, official tours are conducted in the mine, preceded by preparation and a detailed briefing.
The mine’s tunnels vary in structure — some sections have smooth walls, while others look as though they’ve been bombed. In places where the soil is especially clayey, the walls are reinforced with metal. Trolleys and cables that once carried the lamps now lie scattered and covered in a layer of dust, unused for a long time.
There are still meadows here that were once used to dissolve salt and clay in water: the clay would settle, and the salt, in the form of brine, was drawn up through pipes. Now large voids remain, with remnants of the mixture at the bottom. Chunks of hardened clay hang from the ceiling, where water has washed away the salt and left the insoluble particles behind.
The busiest place in the mine is the staff room, where workers constantly monitor the water level and the condition of the ventilation. But nature takes its toll, and some metal structures bend under the weight of the soil.
Visiting the mines is still possible today, but how much longer they will last without investment is anyone’s guess. Let’s hope that someone will truly believe in their potential, so Ukraine can gain a new landmark.
We used photos from the source.
If you’re ever in Kyiv, Ukraine, you can experience Kyiv Urbex and Underground Tour.