The influence of chemical modification and thermal activation on the porous structure of Donbass anthracites (Ukraine) and on the state and catalytic properties of supported palladium has been studied. The most regular distribution of supported palladium particles with an average size of about 2 nm was observed for the supports prepared from the chemically modified anthracites. The activity of supported palladium in the liquid-phase hydrogenation of cyclobexene varies more than 10-fold depending on the preparation method of the anthracite support. The catalysts with the palladium nanoparticles located in micropores of the carbon support exhibit a lower catalytic activity.