The Swedish bearing manufacturer, SKF, has reported that their factory in Lutsk was hit by a missile, resulting in the deaths of three employees. According to "Interfax-Ukraine,"
"Last night (the night of August 15), there was an attack on the city of Lutsk in Ukraine, and as a result, our factory was affected. It is with great sadness that we confirm the deaths of three of our colleagues," said SKF spokesperson Karl Bjornstam.
Previously, Ukrainian authorities announced that as a result of Russian airstrikes in several regions of Ukraine on Tuesday, a missile hit a facility in Lutsk.
"In Volyn. Unfortunately, three employees of the enterprise were killed as a result of the missile strike, and three more were injured. The consequences are being dealt with, and all necessary assistance is being provided to the people," Deputy Head of the Office of the President Oleksiy Kuleba said.
Karl Bjornstam mentioned that the company would assess the consequences of the attack and the damage to the factory, but added that the primary focus is on the employees and their safety.
According to the latest financial report of the company, SKF has almost 1,000 employees in Ukraine. Sales in Ukraine accounted for less than 0.1% of SKF's total sales in 2022, and the Lutsk plant contributed to around 0.5% of SKF's total production volume in 2022.
The full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukrainian territory has also impacted SKF's operations. "Due to the circumstances that have arisen, the factory in Ukraine produced goods to the best of its ability but at a lower level than usual," the document stated.
The SKF Ukraine plant in Lutsk manufactures roller and needle bearings as well as wheel units for heavy-duty/commercial vehicles. According to Opendatabot, the factory's revenue in 2022 decreased by 13.7% compared to 2021, amounting to UAH 1.708 billion. The net profit decreased by 31.4% to UAH 66.52 million, and the value of assets is UAH 1.702 billion.
