Russia has struck ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine’s largest steel producer and part of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal’s ArcelorMittal group, in a missile
attack that killed two people and injured 13 workers and contractors. The strike on August 16 damaged key production infrastructure at the sprawling industrial facility in Kryvyi Rih, forcing the company to partially suspend operations. ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih’s press service said the missile attack hit facilities connected to the plant’s energy systems and blast furnace operations. Firefighters, rescue workers and medical personnel were deployed as search and rescue operations continued, while specialists began assessing the damage and determining how long repairs could take.
🇺🇦🇷🇺 Ukraine's largest metallurgical plant ArcelorMittal partially suspends operations after Russian strikes
ArcelorMittal is a key supplier to Ukraine's defense industry
Critical energy and blast furnace facilities were damaged in the attack https://t.co/NjdbRQSWxT pic.twitter.com/EhmEQq22lc— The Other Side Media (@TheOtherSideRu) August 16, 2026
Mittal-Owned Steel Plant Hit By Missile
The company said the facility is civilian industrial infrastructure and confirmed that the latest attack had disrupted parts of its production process. The plant, one of Ukraine’s most important steelmaking facilities, had previously been hit by a Russian missile in 2022, when a rolling mill was destroyed and one worker was killed.
The latest strike comes as Russian forces have continued conducting large-scale missile and drone attacks across Ukraine. The damage to ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih highlights the continuing exposure of major industrial infrastructure to long-range strikes even as Ukraine attempts to maintain critical economic and manufacturing activity during the war.
The attack also hit Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukrainian authorities said the wider strikes on the city killed two people and injured 14, although the casualty figure specifically provided by ArcelorMittal for its facility was two killed and 13 injured.
Kyiv Book Market Also Hit
The overnight Russian strikes also caused extensive damage in Kyiv, where a large fire broke out at the historic Petrivka book market near the Pochaina metro station. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said several rows of retail pavilions were completely destroyed and large quantities of inventory were lost.
The Petrivka market has operated since the 1990s and is regarded as one of the capital’s oldest and largest book markets. Emergency crews remained at the site dealing with the aftermath, while additional fires and structural damage were reported in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district.
The attacks formed part of a broader Russian aerial campaign. Ukrainian President Zelensky said Russian forces had launched more than 1,550 attack drones, nearly 1,560 aerial bombs and 62 missiles at Ukraine over the previous week, with strikes reported across 13 regions.
Ukraine Seeks More Air Defence
Zelensky has used the latest attacks to renew calls on Western partners to provide additional air defence systems, arguing that Ukraine needs greater protection against Russian ballistic missiles and drones.
“When North Korean ballistic missiles destroy infrastructure and take lives here in Europe, European interceptors cannot simply remain in warehouses,” Zelensky said. He added that strengthening Ukraine’s air defences was necessary to protect civilians and critical infrastructure from further Russian attacks.
For ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, the immediate priority is assessing the damage and restoring affected production systems. The company’s latest statement did not provide a timeline for the full resumption of operations, leaving the extent of the longer-term disruption unclear.
The strike nevertheless underlines the continuing vulnerability of Ukraine’s industrial base, with major production facilities, civilian infrastructure and urban centres remaining exposed as Russia maintains its long-range campaign against targets across the country.
