Kryvyi Rih (Rajeev Sharma): A Russian missile attack has struck the ArcelorMittal steel and mining complex in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, leaving two people dead and 14 workers injured. The industrial facility, associated with Indian-origin billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, was forced to partially scale back operations after key infrastructure was damaged.
The attack adds to a growing series of strikes on industrial and strategic sites as Russia and Ukraine intensify their long-range aerial campaign.
Operations disrupted after strike
ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, one of Ukraine’s biggest steelmaking facilities, confirmed that one of its sites had been damaged. Energy installations and equipment supporting blast-furnace operations were reportedly affected, resulting in a partial suspension of production.
The plant is a major employer and an important contributor to Ukraine’s industrial sector. Any prolonged disruption could therefore have wider implications for the country’s steel production and economy.
Kryvyi Rih, where the facility is located, is also the birthplace of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Strike follows major Ukrainian drone offensive
The Russian attack came after Ukraine launched a large-scale drone assault against targets across Russia.
Russian authorities said hundreds of drones were detected and intercepted overnight. The Defence Ministry put the number at 822 drones, describing the operation as one of the largest aerial attacks in recent months.
Moscow was among the areas placed on heightened alert. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said hundreds of drones had been detected approaching the capital, with many destroyed over the surrounding Moscow region.
The Rostov region was also targeted. Local officials reported five deaths, damage to residential properties and railway infrastructure, along with fires following the strikes.
Casualties reported across Ukraine
Russian strikes were reported in several Ukrainian regions alongside the attack on the Kryvyi Rih industrial complex.
At least one other person was killed in a separate strike on Kryvyi Rih, while casualties were also reported in Zaporizhzhia, Sumy and Donetsk.
In Kyiv, Russian attacks triggered fires and injured several people. One major blaze broke out near the Pochaina metro station, affecting a large book market.
Zelenskyy said Ukrainian cities had faced a heavy bombardment over the previous week, involving more than 1,500 attack drones along with guided bombs and missiles.
Moscow claims military facilities were targeted
Russia said its strikes were directed at Ukraine’s defence and industrial capabilities. Its Defence Ministry claimed the operation against Kryvyi Rih included a metallurgical facility and said other strikes targeted military-industrial locations in Kyiv.
Moscow also alleged that a facility connected to Ukraine’s long-range missile programme was among the targets.
Ukraine has increasingly expanded its use of drones and domestically produced long-range weapons against Russian territory, particularly military and energy-related targets.
Long-range warfare intensifies
The latest escalation reflects a broader shift in the conflict. With limited movement reported along several front-line sectors, both countries have increasingly relied on drones and missiles to strike targets deep inside enemy territory.
The strategy has brought industrial facilities, transport networks and civilian areas further from the battlefield into the conflict.
The damage to the ArcelorMittal facility underscores the growing risks facing Ukraine’s industrial base as the war continues, while the scale of Ukraine’s drone attacks highlights Moscow’s increasing vulnerability to long-range strikes.
