Russian Strikes Devastate Metinvest’s Zaporizhstal Factory, Epicentr Mall in Zaporizhzhia

Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia have left two key Ukrainian businesses in ruins, forcing Metinvest’s Zaporizhstal steel plant to shut down entirely and demolishing an Epicentr shopping center. On Aug. 11 and Aug. 12, seven workers were killed and 21 others injured during the attacks. On Aug. 10-11, Russian forces struck the Metinvest complex as workers were heading to a bunker following an alarm, severely damaging the plant's power units and critical grid infrastructure.

This catastrophic hit left Zaporizhstal's blast furnaces without essential power, compelling the company to permanently halt operations. The attack dealt a devastating blow to Ukraine's heavy industry, as Zaporizhstal had already reported a Hr. 1.06 billion loss for the first half of 2026, a stark contrast to Hr. 1.37 billion profit in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, on Aug. 12, Russian strikes targeting an Epicentr shopping center in Zaporizhzhia ignited a massive fire, destroying 417,000 square meters of the retail space and damaging an additional 500,000 square meters. Epicentr, Ukraine's largest home improvement retailer, has lost billions of dollars in goods and infrastructure since Russia's invasion began.

The company, founded in 2003 by Oleksandr and Halyna Hereha, operates 72 shopping centers across Ukraine with a combined retail area of over 2 million square meters and employs around 38,000 people, including 4,600 who are currently serving in Ukraine's Armed Forces.