Russian Strikes Batter Kyiv as Ukraine’s Largest Steel Plant Shuts Down

Russian air attacks struck Kyiv repeatedly on Friday, September 25, killing seven people and injuring dozens, while Ukraine’s largest steelmaking plant announced that it could no longer operate safely after a series of deadly missile strikes.

The developments highlighted two fronts of the expanding aerial campaign against Ukraine: the immediate danger to civilians in major cities and the longer-term destruction of industrial capacity needed to sustain jobs, exports and government revenue.

Deadly attacks continue across Kyiv

Russian drones hit residential and commercial areas of the Ukrainian capital during attacks that continued from the night into the daytime. Kyiv authorities said seven people were killed and 59 were injured, with many of the wounded requiring hospital treatment.

A 14-year-old boy was among those killed after a drone struck a residential high-rise building. In another attack, emergency workers recovered four bodies from an office building and its parking area in the city’s Solomianskyi district.

Fires and debris were reported at multiple locations as air raid alerts repeatedly sent residents toward shelters. Emergency personnel continued searching damaged structures, assisting casualties and clearing wreckage while further drones approached the capital.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a stronger international response and said the attacks demonstrated the continuing need for improved air defenses. Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces had targeted Ukrainian defense-industry facilities and military logistics. Moscow has repeatedly denied deliberately attacking civilians.

The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said before Friday’s latest casualties that it had recorded at least 200 civilian deaths and 1,234 injuries across the country between September 1 and September 24. The mission described the figures as preliminary and said civilian sites, including homes, hospitals, shops and workplaces, had repeatedly been damaged.

Four strikes leave steel complex unable to restart

Hours before the full casualty count in Kyiv emerged, ArcelorMittal announced that production could not be safely and sustainably restarted at its vast Kryvyi Rih steel and mining complex.

The company said the facility had been struck four times in five weeks, with the most recent missile attack occurring on September 21. Five employees were killed across the four incidents and 17 were injured. One worker remained in critical condition when the closure was announced.

The attacks caused extensive damage to production facilities, according to the company. Management informed the Ukrainian government that continued operation was no longer considered safe, while discussions began over preserving the site and maintaining the possibility of restarting it after the war.

The Kryvyi Rih complex is a central part of Ukraine’s diminished steel industry. It produced approximately 1.7 million metric tons of steel and 7.6 million tons of iron ore in 2025, despite operating below its pre-invasion capacity. The business employs about 12,500 people and works with approximately 3,500 contractors.

ArcelorMittal said it would assess the staffing required to secure the site, preserve equipment and maintain essential functions. The company expects to record a non-cash impairment charge of about $1 billion related mainly to the value of the plant and its machinery. It has provided more than $700 million to support the Ukrainian operation since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Another setback for Ukraine’s economy

The shutdown represents a major blow to an industry that was once one of Ukraine’s largest sources of exports. Steel producers have faced damaged plants, power interruptions, disrupted transport routes, labor shortages and reduced access to overseas markets throughout the war.

Repeated attacks on industrial sites also carry consequences beyond lost production. Large factories support extensive networks of contractors, rail operators, energy suppliers and local businesses. Their closure reduces tax revenue at a time when Ukraine is directing a large share of public spending toward defense and essential wartime services.

Ukraine has meanwhile intensified long-range attacks against Russian energy and defense facilities, saying those sites contribute to Moscow’s military operations. Russian President Vladimir Putin has characterized some of his country’s latest strikes as retaliation for Ukrainian attacks.

With Kyiv facing increasingly frequent drone barrages and one of the country’s most important industrial complexes falling silent, the latest attacks demonstrate how the conflict continues to reach far beyond the battlefield, affecting civilian life and Ukraine’s ability to maintain its economy.