The question of the construction of the underground in Donetsk has been in place since 1976. The construction was started in 1993, the launch of the first line was planned for 2005, but due to systematic underfunding the timing of the project was postponed. It is assumed that the first branch of the metro will be Proletarsko-Kievskaya, which will consist of 10 km of railroad track (4 km of which on the surface, 6 km - underground), 6 stations, depots and engineering building - the site will connect the city center with a large residential complex "Vostochny."

April 19, 2012 The State Administration of Railway Transport of Ukraine began work on the project of the Donetsk Metro, which will be built in an open way. The Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine noted that the ground-based method of construction of the metro was chosen in order to save considerable money, and for example the project of the Dubai aerial metro was taken. The metro project is planned to be realized no later than 2013, and the first line will be opened no later than December 2014.