Key facts
- Russia struck the Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works with two ballistic missiles on September 17.
- One employee was injured in the September 17 strike.
- This is the fourth attack on the plant in just over a month.
- Since August, 17 ballistic missiles have been fired at Zaporizhstal.
- The attack caused significant damage to the plant's engineering equipment and railway network.
- Metinvest, the plant's owner, stated the attacks are "systemic terror against Ukrainian industry and people."
Russian forces struck Ukraine's Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works with two ballistic missiles on the morning of September 17, injuring one employee, according to Metinvest, the plant's owner and Ukraine's largest steel producer. The plant had previously been struck on September 12 by four Russian ballistic missiles, which injured four employees. Since August, Russia has fired a total of 17 ballistic missiles at Zaporizhstal. Metinvest Chief Operating Officer Oleksandr Myronenko described the attacks as "systemic terror against Ukrainian industry and people." The employee injured on September 17 was hospitalized after being unable to reach the plant's shelters before the strike. Metinvest reported "significant damage" to the plant's engineering equipment and railway network. The attacks have exacerbated the difficult conditions for Ukraine's metallurgy industry, which Myronenko stated contributed up to 7% of Ukraine's GDP but may now be close to zero. Metinvest aims to preserve the plant's potential for recovery despite the ongoing strikes.