The cause of the fire has not been confirmed. Russian occupation forces had reportedly turned the facility into a military and repair base, though it remains unclear whether troops were present at the time of the incident.
In 2023, then-Mayor of Melitopol Ivan Fedorov stated that Russian forces had turned the city into a major military hub.
“Russia designated occupied Melitopol as its logistical and administrative base for southern Ukraine,” Fedorov said in a comment to Channel 24. “While we once spoke of schools or businesses housing occupiers, today they are stationed in every corner of Melitopol.”
Prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Hydromash plant specialized in manufacturing hydraulic equipment and pumps. With a history spanning over 80 years, the plant has shifted production multiple times—from brickmaking to advanced hydraulic machinery. It was once the only enterprise in Ukraine producing vehicle-mounted lifts.
Melitopol, along with the Hydromash plant, has been under Russian occupation since Feb. 26, 2022.