Russian strike on power grid forces shutdown of Zaporizhstal plant

A Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s national power grid on December 23 forced the Zaporizhstal steel plant to halt operations after it was completely cut off from electricity, Metinvest Group said in a statement.

The loss of power triggered an emergency shutdown of production at the facility.

According to the company, employees quickly switched to backup power supplies and then safely stopped production in line with an emergency response plan.

"Thanks to the prompt actions and coordinated work of our team, as well as emergency measures aimed at preventing incidents, we were able to avoid an industrial accident and significantly reduce air emissions," the company said.

Production at the plant will resume once external power supply is fully restored.

• The shutdown comes amid a worsening electricity outlook in Ukraine. In October, the National Bank of Ukraine revised its forecast for the power deficit, estimating it could reach 4% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and rise to 6% in the first quarter of 2026.
• The central bank expects the electricity shortfall to average around 3% throughout 2026, limiting industrial output even where companies have sufficient orders and raw materials. According to the NBU, power shortages could slow Ukraine’s GDP growth by about 0.1 percentage points in 2025 and 0.2 percentage points in 2026.