Zaporizhstal hit by ballistic missile attack for third time in a month

The Ukrainian steelmaker Zaporizhstal, part of Metinvest Group, was targeted by four ballistic missiles on the night of September 12.

The plant, which has been attacked for the third time in the past month, sustained critical damage to production and auxiliary equipment, while four employees were injured.

According to a statement from Metinvest, four missiles struck the Zaporizhstal production site. The company said production had not yet resumed following the previous attacks on August 11 and 27.

The latest attack damaged the main and auxiliary equipment in the blast furnace and open-hearth sections, as well as the plant’s power system, internal networks and logistics infrastructure. Metinvest said the full extent of the damage had yet to be determined, but initial assessments indicated that it was critical.

Four employees injured

No fatalities were reported in the attack, while four Zaporizhstal employees sustained injuries of varying severity. One of the injured employees declined hospital treatment after receiving first aid and undergoing a medical examination at the plant, and subsequently joined efforts to deal with the aftermath of the attack.

The other three employees were taken to hospitals in the city after receiving first aid. Their condition was reported as moderate. The company said it remained in contact with healthcare facilities and the families of the injured employees and was providing the necessary support.

As production had not resumed following the previous attacks, there was no risk of a technological emergency at the plant. The number of employees present at the production site during the attack was also significantly limited.

Damage assessment underway at the plant

Following the attack, work began at Zaporizhstal to inspect the damaged areas and address the consequences of the strike. The nature and extent of the damage to production and auxiliary facilities are expected to be determined following the assessment.

Oleksandr Myronenko, chief operating officer of Metinvest Group, said Zaporizhstal is a civilian facility producing pig iron and steel and is not used for military purposes. Myronenko said the damage to the plant had increased with each attack and that the latest damage had been classified as critical based on initial assessments.

Metinvest said Zaporizhstal and Kamet Steel had been repeatedly targeted over the past month, adding that the attacks were having a negative impact on production operations, employment and Ukraine’s industrial infrastructure.