Moscow, Russia – January 31, 2006 – Mechel OAO (NYSE: MTL) announces the appointment of Andrey V. Parkhomchouk as Senior Vice-President for Sales and Procurement.

As Senior Vice-President for Sales and Procurement, Andrey Parkhomchouk will be responsible for the development of Mechel’s domestic and international mining and steel sales.
“We believe that we can significantly increase the effectiveness of our mining and steel sales, and we are looking to Andrey to accomplish this goal. His many years of experience in sales and his proven track record at Mechel makes us confident that he will succeed,” Mechel’s CEO, Vladimir Iorich, commented on the appointment.
“I am looking forward to this challenge, and excited about the opportunities I see for improved sales margins and sourcing efficiencies created by the unification of these functions in a single department,” remarked Andrey Parkhomchuk.

Biography:
June 2004 – January 2006: Director of Mechel’s Department of Steel Products Sales and Procurement.
June 2003 - June 2004: Deputy Director for Sales in Mechel Trading House.
December 2001 - June 2003: Head of the Beloretsk branch of Mechel Trading House.
1995 – 2001: Andrey Parkhomchouk worked in sales in Mechel’s companies, including positions in the marketing department of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant from 1995 to 1997.

Andrey Parkhomchouk graduated from the Chelyabinsk State Technical University with a degree in engineering. Mr. Parkhomchouk also holds an MBA from the Higher School of Business of the Moscow State University (MGU).