KYIV, April 1 – Metinvest, Ukraine’s largest steel and mining group, shut down two of its rolling facilities in Italy due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Italian government's demands to suspend operation amid quarantine.

Ferriera Valsider and Metinvest Trametal in Italy will be closed until April 3 to counter the spread of the virus, the company said.

The closures are the latest signs of disruption experienced by companies owned by Rinat Akhmetov, the wealthiest Ukrainian who controls Metinvest. His other major operation, DTEK, Ukraine’s largest coal mining and power producer, was forced to shut down three coal mines in Ukraine on Wednesday.