Azovstal Iron and Steel Works

Azovstal was established in 1930 in Mariupol, Ukrainian SSR (Soviet Union) by the decision of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the National Economy (BCHX) (USSR) and began production in 1933 when its blast furnace put out the first iron.[9][10] In January 1935, steelmaking production began at Azovstal with the commissioning of the first 250-ton tilting open hearth furnace in the Soviet Union.[9]

It was claimed by Soviet Union officials to be one of the most modern plants in the country, with structures built for both workers and their families outside of the factories. Prior to the Nazi invasion, it reportedly had more than 12,000 worker homes, schools, movie theaters, a hospital and maternity clinic, and two parks.[11]

Monument to the workers of the Azovstal plant killed in World War II

During World War II, operations at the plant were halted on 7 October 1941, with the Germans occupying the city at a lightning speed the next day; otherwise, the plant was unscathed.[12][13] As part of the German Ivan Program (1942–1943) the plant was used to produce ammunition from 1942 onward.[14] In September 1943, upon the city's recapture by Soviet forces, the plant was rebuilt.[12]

In 1991, after the independence of Ukraine, the plant became a property of the Ukrainian state. In 1996, the state started its privatization.[15] The plant became owned by Metinvest, a metallurgical company solely owned by the Ukrainian business conglomerate Systems Capital Management.[16]

In 2005, the plant produced 5.906 million tons of steel.[17] From 2006, it partnered with the Priazovskiy State Technical University to help streamline students into working at the site.[18] In 2011, it was the country's third largest steel producer, accounting for 15% of the entire steel output, and known as a large exporter of steel slabs and billets.[16] In 2014, the bunkers under the factory were used when Russian-backed Donbas separatists tried to take Mariupol from the Ukrainian government.[15]

Smoke rising from the Azovstal plant during fighting in the Siege of Mariupol

In March 2022, during the Siege of Mariupol, the works were badly damaged, with Ukrainian parliament member Serhiy Taruta stating that Russian forces had "practically destroyed the factory".[19] By 16 April, it became the last pocket of organized resistance in the siege. Russian forces gave the defenders until 6:00 AM Moscow Time on 17 April to surrender, claiming that if they left behind their weapons, they would guarantee their lives.[20] Ukrainian forces refused to surrender, and portions of the plant remained under their control.[21]

On 4 May, Russian troops claimed to have entered the steel plant after launching an all-out offensive.[22] However, this was refuted by Ukrainian sources, claiming they had repelled some Russian attacks.[23] On 7 May, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk stated that "all women, children, and the elderly" had been evacuated from Azovstal.[24] According to The New York Times, the Azov Battalion was ordered to surrender by the Ukrainian General Staff on 16 May, who said it was necessary "to save the lives of the personnel".[25]

Rap group Kalush Orchestra, who represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 and later won the competition, called to save the soldiers at Azovstal onstage following their performance. This contributed to a sharp increase in global interest in Azovstal.[26][27]

On 17 May 2022, 53 seriously injured people surrendered and were evacuated from Azovstal to a medical facility in Novoazovsk and 211 people were taken to Olenivka through the humanitarian corridor, marking the end of the combat mission in Mariupol and the defense of the Azovstal plant after 82 days of fighting.[5] Following the capture of Mariupol by the DPR and Russian forces and the surrender of remaining Ukrainian servicemen in Azovstal, Denis Pushilin announced that the plant would be demolished and that "other projects are planned in place of Azovstal".[28] On February 25, 2023, Pushilin announced that a technopark would be built on the territory of Azovstal.[29]