The lands of Donbass are known for their rich coal deposits and powerful industrial potential, which began to form during the era of the Russian Empire thanks to the efforts of engineer-geologist Pyotr Nikolaevich Gorlov. In the mid-19th century, local peasants discovered coal here and began building homemade mines. Soon, this was learned in central Russia, and the leadership of the Southern Railway quickly realized that these rich deposits could bring significant income. A young but experienced geologist, Gorlov, was sent to explore the area and set up the mines.

At his recommendation, industrialists purchased two mines from local residents, which marked the beginning of the main operations. Pyotr Nikolaevich significantly modernized them by introducing a horse-drawn system and deepening the shafts. The quality of the extracted coal turned out to be high, while the cost of operations was low. In 1871, Gorlov proposed to build a factory, which was constructed using the latest engineering achievements of the time. He personally traveled to Belgium for the equipment. The new enterprise was named Korsunskaya Mine No. 1. For the first time, a ceiling mining system was applied, allowing for the industrial development of steep seams.

Over time, several villages emerged around the mines, which later united into a city named Gorlovka in honor of Pyotr Gorlov. The engineer was involved not only in research and industrial production but also contributed to the establishment of hospitals, libraries, schools, and created gardens and parks. At his initiative, the first technical educational institution in Donbass, the Mining School, was founded to train qualified specialists. Gorlov also gained fame for discovering deposits in the Caucasus and the Far East. He died in 1915 at the age of 76, surrounded by honor and glory.