Blackout forces Zaporizhstal shutdown, hits ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih

The Zaporizhstal metallurgical plant was forced to suspend production for the second time in a month following Russian shelling that caused a power outage in the region, the company said in a statement published on its official Facebook page.

"On January 7, a massive enemy drone attack on Ukraine’s energy sector resulted in a blackout in the Zaporizhzhia region. Zaporizhstal, like other electricity consumers in the region, lost its external power supply. As a result, the plant was forced to suspend all production processes," the company said.

The shutdown was carried out safely and without incident.

Under conditions of limited power supply, the company is performing routine maintenance on key production units in preparation for a phased and safe restart, which will be possible once external electricity supply is restored.

The previous suspension at Zaporizhstal occurred on December 23, following a Russian missile and drone strike on the power grid.

Power outages in the Dnipropetrovsk region also affected steelmaker ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih.

"We were forced to temporarily suspend some production processes. This was done safely and in line with internal operating procedures. We are doing everything possible to return to normal production," the company said.

• On the evening of January 7 and during the night of January 8, Russia carried out a large-scale air attack that left the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions almost completely without electricity. Power supply has since been restored in the Zaporizhzhia region, while most of the Dnipropetrovsk region remains without power.