The accident at the Abris mine in the city of Antratsyt in the Lugansk Region occurred at 11:38 a.m. local time (09:38 a.m. GMT) on Sunday at a depth of about 210 meters. Three miners were trapped underground.
"On Monday, at 04:42 a.m. local time (02:42 a.m. GMT), rescuers freed one miner who had fairly serious injuries, and found the bodies of two miners. Work continues to bring the bodies to the surface," the ministry said.
The latest incident came one week after a major disaster at the Zasyadko mine in the neighboring Donetsk Region. A methane explosion in the mine on November 18 claimed the lives of 100 miners.
Wages at most Ukrainian mines are calculated by coal volumes, which often compels miners to ignore safety procedures.
