ArcelorMittal cannot safely restart Ukrainian plant
Fresh attacks have temporarily halted steel production in Kryvyi Rih.
ArcelorMittal says it cannot safely and sustainably resume operations at its Ukrainian subsidiary in Kryvyi Rih. The decision follows four missile attacks in five weeks, in which five people were killed and seventeen employees injured, according to the company.
The steel producer has informed the Ukrainian government that restarting ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih is not currently responsible. The company says the attacks have caused extensive damage to production facilities and that the safety of employees cannot be guaranteed.
According to ArcelorMittal, the most recent attack took place on 21 September. In total, five people were killed and seventeen employees injured in the four attacks. One of the injured remains in a critical condition, according to the company.
Kryvyi Rih is one of Ukraine’s most important industrial cities, and the company is one of the country’s major steel producers. The business includes mining and steel production, among other activities. Production had already been adjusted or temporarily halted several times because of the war.
ArcelorMittal says it has invested more than $700 million in its Ukrainian subsidiary since the start of the Russian invasion. The group also expects a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $1 billion on the plant’s assets.
The company is discussing the future of the complex with the Ukrainian government. According to chief executive Mauro Longobardo, ArcelorMittal wants to preserve as much of the infrastructure as possible, so that a restart remains possible after the war ends.
The announcement says nothing about a specific date for resumption. Nor has it been independently established precisely what type of weapons struck the facilities. It is clear, however, that the attacks directly affect the production and investment decisions of one of Ukraine’s largest industrial employers.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- ArcelorMittal has suspended the restart of its Ukrainian plant.
- The company reports five deaths and seventeen injured employees in four attacks.
- No specific date for a restart is known.
Left
Arguments The safety of employees and public support for Ukraine should carry more weight than a rapid resumption of production. European governments should help companies keep strategic industry in Ukraine afloat.
Values Worker protection, international solidarity and public responsibility.
Consequences Greater government support could protect jobs and reconstruction, but would require sustained public funding.
Centre
Arguments The state and the company should continue to assess risks, continuity and costs together. Preserving the infrastructure may be sensible without making a political promise about restarting now.
Values Cautious governance, economic continuity and institutional responsibility.
Consequences A phased approach limits risks, but could mean that production and jobs remain uncertain for a long time.
Right
Arguments A company should be able to decide for itself when safety and investment risks become too great. Governments should focus on ensuring security and an attractive business environment, not on providing permanent corporate financing.
Values Ownership, market forces and national security.
Consequences Less public support limits taxpayer risk, but could further weaken Ukraine’s industrial base.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The core facts are based directly on the company’s statement and are broadly supported by independent reporting. The text makes clear which figures come from ArcelorMittal itself and which uncertainties remain.
- confirmed ArcelorMittal says it cannot safely and sustainably restart the plant in Kryvyi Rih. — Stated in the company’s statement of 25 September 2026. source
- confirmed The plant was hit four times in five weeks. — The number of attacks and the period are cited by ArcelorMittal. source
- confirmed The company expects approximately $1 billion in non-cash impairment. — Included in the same statement. source
Editor's note
The decision and company data come from ArcelorMittal’s statement. The precise military circumstances of the attacks and the future production date remain uncertain.Sources
- ArcelorMittal kan activiteiten in Kryvyi Rih niet veilig hervatten — ArcelorMittal
- Russian strikes hit two Ukrainian steel plants — The Kyiv Independent
- Two killed in missile strike on ArcelorMittal Ukraine plant — Reuters via MarketScreener
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „arcelormittal staal”
- Trouw — „arcelormittal staal”
- RTL Nieuws — „arcelormittal staal”