Mauro Longobardo, CEO of ArcelorMittal’s Ukraine steelmaking plant, stands in front of a covered statue. He tells his audience, including several dressed in military fatigues: “This memorial is [for] eternal glory to the soldiers, employees of ArcelorMittal.”

The sheet comes off, revealing a statue depicting a soldier and a labourer. Dozens of names are inscribed on its base. For those attending, the memorial is a poignant reminder of the thousands of colleagues who have fought in the war. Many have died: the steelmaker has posted 36 obituaries to fallen employees this year.

The statue could just as well stand testament to ArcelorMittal’s hypocrisy. Global Witness and ARIA analysis of customs records and shipping data reveals that the steelmaker’s Indian joint venture imported coal worth $21 million from Russian-owned firms at the end of 2023. And Indian customs data suggests that the total value for similar purchases since Moscow’s invasion could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

These shipments are closely linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine. One of the cargoes was delivered in October by the UAE subsidiary of the Russian firm SUEK. The US sanctioned the mining group in February, citing in its measures that the company counted Moscow’s Ministry of Defense among its biggest customers.

These imports did not breach sanctions, because India has not imposed an embargo on coal. But through its joint venture’s purchases of coal from Russia, Luxembourg-headquartered ArcelorMittal is in effect funding an industry contributing to the Kremlin’s war effort.

ArcelorMittal says that since the start of the war in Ukraine, it took steps to ensure that all of its wholly-owned subsidiaries suspended their business with Russia and that “today none conduct any trade with Russian entities”. Nonetheless, it made no such claim for its jointly operated Indian steelmaking business, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel (AM/NS India).

ArcelorMittal also claims it has donated more than 650 million Ukrainian hryvnia ($17m) in military and humanitarian aid since Moscow’s invasion. This gesture is, however, eclipsed by the $21m of coal shipments...

Global Witness and ARIA analysis of customs records and shipping data reveals that AM/NS India, a joint venture in India with Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel, made these purchases. ArcelorMittal is the majority owner, holding 60% of the shares.

Customs and shipping data show that each of the three voyages set off from Russian ports for India where they deposited a collective 170,000 tonnes of coal in Hazira, Vishakhapatnam, and Paradeep...

The steelmaker’s imports to Hazira from Russia in this period were worth 48 billion Indian rupees ($586 million), according to government and customs data, including the Black Sand Commodities shipment identified. Although Global Witness and ARIA could not verify the origin of these products, these records indicate that trades by subsidiaries of Russian coal miners made up most of this value.

Customs data and bills of lading also appear to show that ArcelorMittal imported Russian coal to its Pecem steelworks in Brazil in 2023.

Of the companies named in this article, only ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel responded to requests for comments.

ArcelorMittal emphasised its support for its Ukrainian employees who “have been extraordinary” and it applauded “their strength, courage, and commitment.” It said its dedication to them was “a matter of fact.” 

The steelmaker added that it had made considerable effort to support these colleagues since the outbreak of the war, including humanitarian relief efforts and significant financial donations to efforts on the ground by non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

It went on to say it followed official Kyiv policy by keeping its plant open in the country and said its wholly-owned subsidiaries no longer trade with Russian entities. But, it did not say the same for AM/NS India. 

Both Nippon Steel, which otherwise declined to comment on the research, and ArcelorMittal said their joint venture runs its business in a manner fully consistent with the policies and laws of the government of India...