A Russian missile strike on August 11 damaged energy facilities and infrastructure at Metinvest’s enterprises in Zaporizhzhia, forcing steel production at the Zaporizhstal plant to a complete halt.
Metinvest said the attack damaged the main and auxiliary facilities used for coke and blast furnace production, as well as energy infrastructure. The company’s other production sites in Zaporizhzhia are operating at reduced capacity while specialists assess the damage and carry out emergency repairs.
The attack also resulted in the deaths of seven workers, while at least 21 others were injured, according to Metinvest.
Metinvest said the company is currently assessing the consequences of the attack, recovery options and the timeframe for restoring operations.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said the steelworks was targeted because of its alleged production of steel used in military applications, while Metinvest has described its facilities as civilian industrial assets.
Metinvest, established in 2006, is Ukraine’s largest vertically integrated mining and steel group, with annual crude steel capacity of around 14 mln tons. Its Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works is an integrated flat steel producer and one of Ukraine’s major steelmaking facilities.