Russian Missile Hits Lakshmi Mittal’s Ukraine Steel Plant; 2 Killed, Blast Furnace And Power Units Damaged

On Sunday, a Russian missile strike hit Lakshmi Mittal's ArcelorMittal mining and metallurgical complex in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine's largest integrated steel unit. The attack resulted in two fatalities and injured 14 workers, causing significant damage to key production facilities, particularly in the power generation and blast furnace sectors.

This incident came as a retaliatory response to a Ukrainian drone barrage earlier that day, which killed two people and injured 14 others, temporarily halting production. The targeted plant, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, is situated in the city of Kryvyi Rih, a hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The company, controlled by Indian-origin billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, holds a 95.1% stake in the Ukrainian facility.

Ukraine has recently secured monthly US Patriot missile deliveries, but the supplies remain insufficient to fully address the ongoing security challenges. The Kryvyi Rih plant has historically played a crucial role in Ukraine's steel industry, yet the recent attack has further disrupted its operations amidst the ongoing conflict.