ArcelorMittal halts Ukraine's largest steel plant — CBC World

ArcelorMittal is halting production at Ukraine's largest steel plant after four Russian strikes in five weeks. As CBC World reports, the company said the strikes caused significant damage to the facility and resulted in the deaths of five employees.

Plant operations

ArcelorMittal informed the Ukrainian government that the safe and sustainable operation of the facility is no longer possible. The plant is located in southeastern Ukraine. It employs about 12,500 people, while another 3,500 people are contractors.

The production halt was another blow to Ukraine's steel sector, which previously accounted for 15% of the country's exports. The industry is under pressure from Russian attacks and restrictions imposed by the European Union, Ukraine's main trading partner.

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Consequences of the attacks on Kyiv

On September 25, Russian strikes on Kyiv killed seven people, including a 14-year-old boy. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that 59 people were injured in the attacks. Of them, 25 were receiving treatment in hospitals, with one person in serious condition.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also reported a strike on a food warehouse used by McDonald's. Russia, the aggressor state, has intensified air attacks on Ukraine in recent months, using ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones.

According to the UN Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, at least 200 civilians were killed in attacks in September. The strikes also damaged residential buildings, hospitals, shops and workplaces. The Russian Defense Ministry of the aggressor state said its forces had attacked Ukrainian defense industry facilities, logistics centers and vessels overnight that, according to the ministry, were used by Ukraine's Defense Forces.