Ukrainian AM "Krivoy Rog" and "Zaporizhstal" restore work after power outage due to missile strikes by the Russian Federation

The massive missile and drone strikes launched by Russia in Ukraine on January 7-8 have once again put not only people at risk, but also infrastructure and industry, including the steel sector. Due to the strikes, the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia regions of Ukraine faced large-scale power outages, and steel mills in these areas had to deal with power outages. However, according to official statements, both plants managed to overcome the difficulties, avoiding equipment breakdowns or prolonged downtime.

Despite media reports about the complete shutdown of the Ukrainian ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, the company itself denied these reports, stating that there had indeed been power outages, but its production sites had not stopped completely and work was continuing on internal technological parameters. Some facilities temporarily stopped working, but there was no danger to personnel and equipment. ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih is one of the largest producers of long products and billets in Ukraine.

Metinvest Zaporizhstal, another affected steel producer, also faced a power outage on January 7, and due to strikes in Russia, some of the plant's operations were partially suspended. According to sources, today, on January 9, Zaporizhstal is slowly restoring work due to internal power supply, and is also gradually restoring power supply from the region. Zaporizhstal is currently the only integrated producer of HRC and CRC steel in Ukraine after another such producer, the Ilyich Mariupol plant, was given over to Russia at the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Earlier, the plant was shut down after Russian missile strikes on December 23 and related power outages.