Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Metinvest has committed UAH 7.5 billion to support Ukraine and its people, with UAH 4 billion directed towards military needs as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front initiative. The company remains a steadfast pillar of support for the nation on its path to victory.
From day one of the full-scale war, Metinvest mobilized all its resources to help Ukraine overcome the enemy. More than half of the allocated funds – UAH 4 billion – have gone towards providing systematic support to the Defense Forces of Ukraine through Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative.
Metinvest has partnered with the Armed Forces of Ukraine to build defensive lines. In addition to deploying its specialists, the company supplies materials and specialized equipment to impede the enemy’s advance. So far, over 200 kilometers of fortifications have been constructed in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, including 43 underground shelters, or "kryivkas," produced at the company’s facilities.
Metinvest has also provided various steel products to meet the military’s needs. These include anti-mine trawls, protective screens to counter FPV drones, lancet catchers, armor plates for protective gear, and armor for frontline vehicles. Additionally, using metal supplied free of charge by Metinvest-SMC, nearly 150 mobile buggy vehicles have been produced and delivered to the frontlines.
In order to improve the army's defence capabilities, Metinvest has been consistently supplying gear and equipment to the frontlines, including reconnaissance drones, military grade optics, communication devices, backup power supply sources, various purpose vehicles, in particular the specialised ambulances, speedboats, etc. Metinvest is currently the biggest private donor of the Ukrainian army.
Over 8,000 employees of Metinvest and its joint ventures and affiliates have joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. More than 1,000 of them, both veterans of the Anti-Terrorist Operation and the full-scale war, have returned to their workplaces from active duty. For better adaptation of defenders to civilian life, Metinvest is implementing a comprehensive ecosystem of reintegration. It follows the principles of responsibility, systemic effort, and inner justice.
The company is recruiting veterans for its 4,000 engineering and technical job openings, inviting both former employees and new applicants. The company offers training and re-training, higher education opportunities at Metinvest Polytechnic University on preferential terms. Metinvest pays for physical and psychological rehabilitation of veterans, as well as educates the staff of its enterprises on how to approach the colleagues returning from the front.
This year, Metinvest won a special award for having the Best Veteran Adaptation Programme according to Ukraine's Best Employers 2024 ranking. Boasting its unique expertise, the company welcomes any partnership and development opportunities. In August, Metinvest reached a cooperation agreement with America’s Warrior Partnership (AWP) organisation, seeking to exchange and spread the best practices, as well as advance the veteran-related projects in Ukraine.
At the same time, Metinvest continues to maintain its operations in Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, Kamianske, and Pokrovsk. The workload of these businesses varies in consideration of security, workforce availability, power supply situation, as well as logistics and economics. Such balancing allows Metinvest to fully meet its salary and tax obligations. In H1 2024, the company paid UAH 9.9 billion in taxes to national and local budgets, thus allowing the cities and towns to sustain their social programmes. This is a crucial contribution to the economy of Ukraine and its frontline regions.
As in the pre-war times, Metinvest prioritises the well-being and safety of its employees, their families, and all residents of localities where the company operates. The Saving Lives humanitarian initiative commenced in early days of the full-scale invasion has already helped 500,000 people.
With the support of donors and partners, Metinvest has delivered 4,200 tonnes of groceries, hygiene products, and other essentials to Ukraine. The hospitals have received UAH 9.5 million worth of medicines and equipment. The project's key areas of focus also include physical and psychological rehabilitation of military and civilians. This summer, Saving Lives initiative arranged recreation trips to the Carpathians for 40 mothers, wives, and children of the fallen heroes who worked at the company. During three weeks, they had sessions with professional psychologists from Unbreakable Mom project run by Masha Fund.
While steadfastly helping Ukraine throughout this war, Metinvest is already making plans for the future. The company has presented its Steel Dream concept for reconstruction of housing and social infrastructure. Furthermore, it continues to advance the implementation of its green transformation strategy.
Yuriy Ryzhenkov, CEO of Metinvest Group:
"The steel heart is beating in lockstep with Ukraine, from the very inception of Metinvest and all through these most challenging times in recent history. Over two and a half years of the full-scale war, our company has become a mainstay for the defenders, veterans, civilians, and our employees. We trust that these efforts shall definitely forge our victory over the enemy, and let us fly the blue-and-yellow flag over Mariupol, Avdiivka, and other occupied cities once again."
