Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal’s Ukraine steel plant hit in Russian strike, 2 killed, 13 injured

The ArcelorMittal steel plant in Ukraine, owned by billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, was hit by a Russian strike on Sunday, resulting in two deaths and 13 injuries. The facility, located in Kryvyi Rih, a city and birthplace of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, is Ukraine's largest steel producer and a significant industrial complex.

The strike damaged key energy and blast furnace production facilities, prompting the plant to partially suspend operations. Search and rescue efforts were immediately launched, with firefighters, rescue workers, and medical personnel attending to the scene. This is not the first Russian attack on the plant; in 2022, a missile strike destroyed a rolling mill, killing one worker.

The attack on Kryvyi Rih was part of a series of Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine on August 16, which also targeted Kyiv and other regions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed concern over the strikes, calling for international partners to provide Ukraine with additional air defense systems to prevent further civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.