Russians attack Zaporizhstal for fifth time, firing six ballistic missiles – photo
Russia has attacked the Zaporizhstal steelworks with ballistic missiles. The plant has still not returned to normal production following a series of previous strikes.
Source: Metinvest
Details: On 17 October, Russia once again attacked the Zaporizhstal steelworks with ballistic missiles. Six ballistic missiles struck the plant's internal energy and logistics infrastructure at dawn and caused further damage to blast-furnace production facilities, the company reported.
Metinvest said there were no casualties this time, as employees had moved to shelters in time.
Zaporizhstal came under large-scale ballistic missile attacks on 11 and 27 August, 12 and 17 September, and again on 17 October. A total of 23 ballistic missiles have been launched at the plant during this period.
Eight employees have been killed in these attacks and another 31 workers have sustained injuries of varying severity.
Following the 11 August attack, the entire production site was shut down. Employees were involved in clearing rubble and dealing with the aftermath of the strike in order to assess the damage and determine whether production could be restored.
Some technological processes were quickly restarted to keep equipment in a safe condition and eliminate potential industrial hazards for employees and local residents. Metinvest said these processes have since been maintained at the minimum level necessary.
However, normal production has still not resumed.
Given the persistent security risks caused by systematic Russian attacks on Zaporizhzhia, the plant has rapidly expanded its network of protective shelters.
Additional reinforced mobile shelters have also been installed in areas where employees are dealing with the aftermath of attacks and repairing damaged equipment.
This has significantly reduced the distance and time workers need to reach shelter, which is particularly important during ballistic missile attacks.
"I am grateful to our employees, to our team, who have proved stronger than the attacks and the immense pressure. Professionalism, competence and team spirit have always been our values. But in times like these, it is the strength of our people's spirit that comes to the fore," said Oleksandr Myronenko, Chief Operating Officer of Metinvest Group.
He stressed that Russia destroys and distorts, seeking to annihilate, while people continue to work.
"Metre by metre, people clear the rubble and come together to deal with the aftermath of the strikes. When they hear the air-raid warning, they head to the shelters together. And once the all-clear is given, they return to work at the damaged facilities," Myronenko said.
Background:
- Russian forces attacked an industrial facility in Kryvyi Rih on 17 October.
- Energy infrastructure in Zhytomyr Oblast came under Russian attack, causing widespread power outages.
- On the morning of 17 September, Russia struck the already-idled Zaporizhstal plant with two ballistic missiles. One employee was taken to hospital, while production equipment and railway infrastructure sustained significant damage.
- Zaporizhstal completely halted operations following a Russian ballistic missile strike on 11 August. In late August, Metinvest said it was not yet possible to determine when the plant could resume operations.
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