A Russian missile strike has hit the ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih steel complex in Ukraine, killing two people and injuring 14 workers, as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to threaten critical industrial infrastructure.
The attack took place overnight on August 15–16 in Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine’s largest steel producer, confirmed that one of its sites had been struck, with the damage forcing the company to partially suspend operations.
The strike damaged important power-generation and blast-furnace facilities at the industrial complex, disrupting key operations at the plant.
The attack comes amid a sharp escalation in long-range strikes between Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian forces had launched a major drone offensive against targets inside Russia, with Moscow claiming that hundreds of drones were intercepted. Russia subsequently carried out a series of missile and drone attacks against several Ukrainian locations.
The Kryvyi Rih strike highlights the continuing vulnerability of Ukraine’s industrial infrastructure, which has repeatedly come under attack during the war. Damage to energy systems and heavy industrial facilities can have a wider impact on production, transportation and the country’s broader economy.
ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih is operated by ArcelorMittal and is associated with Indian-origin billionaire Lakshmi Mittal. The facility is one of Ukraine’s most significant steel-producing complexes, making the attack particularly significant for the country’s industrial sector.
The latest incident also comes after other Russian attacks on Ukrainian industrial sites. A separate Russian missile strike on the Zaporizhstal steel plant in Zaporizhzhia earlier in August reportedly killed seven workers, further demonstrating the growing risks faced by Ukraine’s heavy industrial base.
The fresh strikes come as both Moscow and Kyiv continue to employ increasingly large-scale drone and missile attacks. Ukraine has intensified its long-range drone operations against targets in Russia, while Russia has continued missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
For ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, the immediate priority is assessing the damage and restoring affected operations. The extent and duration of the production disruption will depend on the condition of the damaged power and blast-furnace infrastructure.
The attack underscores how the Russia-Ukraine war is increasingly affecting major industrial assets alongside military and civilian targets, with repeated strikes threatening Ukraine’s ability to maintain critical economic and manufacturing capacity.