Russia is destroying Ukraine's metallurgical industry, eliminating a competitor in the EU market
Russia is intensifying its massive strikes against Ukrainian steel mills, halting production and driving Ukraine out of international markets, while its own producers continue to supply products to the European Union.
Due to the destruction of Zaporizhstal, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, “Kametstal,” and the Dnipro Metallurgical Plant, the Ukrainian economy is losing jobs, tax revenue, and export earnings, which creates an additional advantage for Russian competitors.
Despite the restrictions in place, the Russian companies NLMK and Evraz retain access to the European market and will be able to supply approximately 3 million metric tons of slabs to the EU in 2026 under exemptions. Currently, Russia accounts for 58% of steel slab imports into the European Union; in particular, one-third of shipments go to Belgium, where the plants of Russian oligarch Vladimir Lisin—who remains off the EU’s sanctions lists—continue to operate. At the same time, the Ukrainian steel industry faces additional restrictions due to new import quotas and the implementation of the CBAM.
Under these circumstances, Ukraine must increase pressure on its European partners and push for a complete closure of the EU market to Russian metal products, so that the aggressor country does not gain a competitive advantage from the destruction of Ukrainian industry.
This was reported by NV.
The combination of Russian attacks on steel mills, problems with maritime logistics, rising transportation costs, and new EU restrictions could lead to a 30–40% decline in steel production in Ukraine, and iron ore production by approximately 40%.
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