ArcelorMittal halts Ukraine steel plant after Russian missile strikes kill five

ArcelorMittal announced Friday it is halting operations at its massive steel plant in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, after four Russian missile strikes killed five people and wounded 17 employees. The plant, Ukraine's largest steelworks and located in President Volodymyr Zelensky's hometown, was hit on September 21. The company said it will focus on preserving infrastructure so production could resume once peace returns, according to a statement from the Luxembourg-based group. The nearly century-old complex had continued operating despite the war, facing power shortages, blocked ports, and Russian-occupied coal mines. In 2025, steel output ran at 35% capacity, producing 1.7 million tons. ArcelorMittal has spent over $700 million supporting the unprofitable Ukrainian operation, which employs about 17,500 workers.