Ukraine Halts Steel Production for First Time in a Century, Former Zelensky Spokeswoman Says

Ukraine has halted steel production for the first time in a century, with major plants sitting idle following massed Russian strikes, a former spokeswoman for President Volodymyr Zelensky was quoted as saying by Russian state news agency TASS.

TASS's report did not identify the individual by name beyond describing her as a former Zelensky spokeswoman, nor did it specify which steel plants were affected, when the halt occurred, or provide independent verification of the claim. The characterization of production having stopped entirely for the first time in a century is a striking one that could not be independently confirmed from the report alone.

Ukraine's steel industry, historically centered in the eastern and southeastern parts of the country including Mariupol, Zaporizhzhia, and the Donbas region, has been severely disrupted since the start of the full-scale war, with some major facilities destroyed or rendered inoperable due to fighting, occupation, or infrastructure damage, including repeated attacks on the energy grid that industrial plants depend on.

Ukrainian officials have regularly acknowledged the war's heavy toll on domestic industry and energy infrastructure, attributing disruptions to sustained Russian missile and drone strikes targeting power generation and grid infrastructure across the country, particularly during the winter months.

The claim reported by TASS could not be independently corroborated by other sources at the time of publication, and readers should treat it as an unverified statement pending confirmation from other outlets or Ukrainian officials.