Russia hits Ukrainian Zaporizhstal steel plant with ballistic missile, leaving casualties
Illustrative photo: Russia strikes Zaporizhstal plant with a ballistic missile (Getty Images)
Seven employees of the Zaporizhstal steel plant were killed, and another 21 people were injured as a result of a Russian ballistic strike on industrial facilities in Zaporizhzhia. The plant's operations have been completely halted, according to the press service of the Metinvest group.
The Russian missile struck civilian industrial sites as employees were heading to shelters immediately after the air raid alert was announced.
Seven Zaporizhstal employees were killed in the attack, while 21 people sustained injuries of various degrees of severity.
"We are providing them with all the necessary assistance and support. We remain in contact with the families of those killed and injured and are helping them through this extremely difficult time," the statement said.
The strikes caused significant damage to the power units and infrastructure of industrial enterprises in Zaporizhzhia, as well as to the main and auxiliary facilities of the coke and blast-furnace operations.
The operations of the Zaporizhstal steel plant have now been completely halted, while other production sites are operating at reduced capacity. Specialists and city services are working to eliminate the consequences of the attack and assess the timeline for restoring operations.
"Today and tomorrow, flags at Metinvest's enterprises are being flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning for the employees who were killed," Metinvest said.
Earlier, Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with Zircon anti-ship missiles, Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, as well as various types of drones.
Ukrainian air defenses shot down or suppressed 98 enemy Shahed, Gerbera and other types of drones.
