Russia struck the Zaporizhstal steel plant with two ballistic missiles on September 17. The plant had already suspended production following previous attacks. This was the fourth Russian missile attack on the facility in a month, according to the press service of Metinvest Group.
This time, the missiles struck industrial areas of the plant, causing significant damage to engineering and railway networks. No one was killed, while one employee was hospitalised.
“Since August, the aggressor country has fired a total of 17 ballistic missiles at Zaporizhstal. This is already the fourth attack in just over a month — systematic terror against Ukrainian industry and its people,” said Oleksandr Myronenko, Chief Operating Officer of Metinvest Group.
He stressed that repeated strikes on a plant that has already halted operations are an attempt to prevent it from recovering and resuming production.
The attack caused significant damage to the plant’s main technological and auxiliary equipment, production buildings and railway infrastructure. Work is continuing to clear debris and deal with the consequences of the Russian attack so that the damage can be inspected and assessed.
Zaporizhstal has been subjected to repeated Russian strikes. On August 11, a Russian attack damaged the plant’s main technological and auxiliary equipment, infrastructure and energy system, killing eight employees and injuring 28. Production chains were disrupted, forcing the plant to suspend operations completely.
On August 27, another Russian attack damaged the same production facilities. There were no casualties or injuries.
The September 12 attack struck blast furnace and steelmaking facilities, energy infrastructure and networks, as well as logistics facilities. Four employees were injured.
“Metinvest’s task today is to preserve the plant, its team, its production capacity and the possibility of restoring operations. Every new Russian strike makes this more difficult, but it does not change this objective,” the group said.
