Russian Strikes Target Key Ukrainian Steel Facilities
Missile attacks on Zaporizhstal and ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih kill two and injure six, marking the third major hit on one plant in a month.
Two of Ukraine’s largest metallurgical plants were struck by Russian missiles overnight on September 12, resulting in two fatalities and six injuries. The attacks targeted the Zaporizhstal facility in Zaporizhzhia and the ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih plant in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, according to statements from the operators. These strikes are part of a broader wave of overnight attacks that killed at least 11 people and injured 96 others across multiple Ukrainian regions.
The damage to industrial infrastructure appears significant, with plant operators describing critical impacts on production capabilities. In Zaporizhzhia, four ballistic missiles hit the site, while the facility in Kryvyi Rih suffered damage to production and auxiliary facilities. Officials from both companies emphasized that these are civilian enterprises that do not manufacture military goods, yet they continue to be targeted amid the ongoing conflict.
Repeated Hits on Zaporizhstal
The Zaporizhstal plant has now been struck by ballistic missiles three times in less than a month, following earlier attacks on August 11 and August 27. According to Metinvest, the operator of the plant, production had not yet resumed after the previous strikes. The latest attack caused critical damage to the blast furnace, open-hearth shops, energy systems, and logistics infrastructure. Oleksandr Myronenko, Metinvest’s Chief Operating Officer, stated that the scale of destruction is increasing with every strike, though a full assessment of the damage is still pending.
Civilian Targets Under Fire
Both companies have stressed the civilian nature of their operations. Metinvest noted that Zaporizhstal produced pig iron and steel for civilian needs and did not host any military assets on its territory. Similarly, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih described itself as a civilian mining and metallurgical enterprise. Despite these clarifications, the facilities continue to be hit, with the Kryvyi Rih plant suffering its second major attack in recent history after a previous strike in December 2022 and another in August 2026 that resulted in multiple casualties and production halts.
Broader Regional Impact
The strikes on these two plants were part of a coordinated overnight assault that affected several oblasts. Odesa Oblast was the primary target of the missile and drone attacks, but deadly strikes were also reported in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Kharkiv. The cumulative effect of these attacks on Ukraine’s industrial sector raises questions about the resilience of key economic assets and the long-term implications for steel production capacity in the region.
As rescue and search operations continue at the sites, specialists are assessing the extent of the damage and potential timelines for recovery. The repeated targeting of major industrial facilities underscores the vulnerability of civilian infrastructure in conflict zones and highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Ukrainian industries in maintaining operations under sustained pressure.
