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On September 17, Russian forces launched two ballistic missiles at the Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works, injuring a single worker, according to Metinvest, the plant's owner and Ukraine's largest steel producer. Previously, on September 12, four missiles struck the facility, resulting in four injuries. Since August, Russia has fired a total of 17 ballistic missiles at Zaporizhstal, marking the fourth attack in less than a month – a relentless campaign targeting Ukrainian industry and people, stated Metinvest Chief Operating Officer Oleksandr Myronenko.

Although no fatalities were reported, one employee was injured and hospitalized after failing to seek shelter before the strike. The assault inflicted substantial damage to the plant's engineering equipment and railway network, exacerbating a challenging year for Ukraine's once-thriving metallurgy industry, which once contributed up to 7% of the nation's GDP, now potentially close to zero, Myronenko told Reuters on September 16.

Despite the ongoing threats, Zaporizhstal remains a vital industrial enterprise for both Zaporizhzhia and Ukraine. Metinvest's primary objective is to safeguard the plant, its workforce, production capabilities, and prospects for recovery. Each new Russian strike complicates this mission, yet it remains steadfast in achieving this goal.