MOSCOW, July 5, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mechel OAO (NYSE:MTL), one of
the leading Russian mining and metals companies, reports that work was
temporarily halted at V.I. Lenina Underground mine.

Following an inspection conducted by the Mezhdurechensk territorial
branch of the Southern Siberian department of the Federal Agency for
Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Monitoring, mining at V.I. Lenina
Underground mine was suspended by order of the Mezhdurechensk city
court.

At present most of the monitoring agency's requirements have been met
and practically all violations have been eliminated. Mining at all of
V.I. Lenina Underground mine's facilities is planned to be resumed
shortly.

Mechel is one of the leading Russian companies. Its business includes
four segments: mining, steel, ferroalloy and power. Mechel unites
producers of coal, iron ore concentrate, nickel, ferrochrome,
ferrosilicon, steel, rolled products, hardware, heat and electric
power. Mechel products are marketed domestically and internationally.

The Mechel OAO logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=8181

Some of the information in this press release may contain projections
or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the
future financial performance of Mechel, as defined in the safe harbor
provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions
and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not
intend to update these statements. We refer you to the documents Mechel
files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, including our Form 20-F. These documents contain and
identify important factors, including those contained in the section
captioned "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements" in our Form 20-F, that could cause the actual results to
differ materially from those contained in our projections or
forward-looking statements, including, among others, the achievement of
anticipated levels of profitability, growth, cost and synergy of our
recent acquisitions, the impact of competitive pricing, the ability to
obtain necessary regulatory approvals and licenses, the impact of
developments in the Russian economic, political and legal environment,
volatility in stock markets or in the price of our shares or ADRs,
financial risk management and the impact of general business and global
economic conditions.


CONTACT: Mechel OAO
         Maria Kolmogorova
         Tel: + 7 495 221 88 88
         maria.kolmogorova@mechel.com