Ukraine steel Industry faces major damage after Russian strikes

Ukraine steel industry is facing major damage after a series of Russian missile strikes. Several large steel plants have been forced to stop work. One of the worst hit plants is Zaporizhstal in Zaporizhzhia. The factory employs about 8,500 people and is a major source of jobs in the city.

According to Metinvest, 17 missiles hit the plant. Eight workers were killed and 31 were hurt. The attacks also damaged factory equipment, roofs, windows and blast furnaces.

Workers are now clearing rubble and fixing what they can. The plant tried to restart one furnace but another air strike forced the work to stop after only 10 hours. Another major steel plant in Kryvyi Rih has also been unable to reopen after several attacks. The plant had five workers killed during the attacks.

The steel industry was very important to Ukraine before the full scale war began in 2022. It made up about 10% of the country’s economy and around one-third of its exports. More than 500,000 jobs were linked to the sector.

Steel plants also provide large amounts of tax money to cities. This money helps pay for heating, schools, roads and public services. Experts warn that long shutdowns could cause more job losses and hurt local communities.

The industry is also important for Ukraine’s defense and future rebuilding. Steel is needed for buildings, shelters, repairs and other work. Transport is another problem. Damage to railways has made it harder to move steel inside Ukraine. Attacks on ports have also made exports more risky.

Despite the damage, workers at Zaporizhstal continue trying to save the factory. They are clearing the site and repairing equipment as they wait for a safer time to restart production.