By KYIV. Dec 30 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, the Metinvest Mining and Metallurgical Group has allocated more than UAH 2.8 billion to bolster the country’s defence capability and support its employees and civilians, of which UAH 1.5 billion went to the needs of the army as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative.
The company’s press release on Friday states that Metinvest remains a reliable pillar for Ukraine in the economic, defence and social spheres.
Group CEO Yuriy Ryzhenkov said that Metinvest is making every effort to bring Ukraine’s victory closer in all areas.
"As far as possible in wartime, our entities are continuing to make products for the defence and restoration of the country’s infrastructure, as well as preserve jobs and pay taxes. As part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front, we are providing our army with gear and steel products. The Saving Lives humanitarian initiative is taking care of food and other necessities for Ukrainians, as well as their physical and psychological health. We are looking after our employees and striving to retain the team to help the country in the future," Ryzhenkov said, quoted by the press service.
According to him, as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front defence initiative, Metinvest has established a systematic supply of vital items to the front line. In particular, the group’s enterprises are making steel products: 69 special mobile dugouts have been supplied to the front line to reinforce trenches.
According to the press release, Metinvest is one of the largest suppliers of gear for the army among private Ukrainian businesses. Defenders will be protected by 25,000 helmets and 150,000 bulletproof vests, most of which are manufactured in Ukraine. For this purpose, Metinvest’s entities have launched their own production of steel for armour plates.
In addition, the sales company Metinvest-SMC is supplying hot-rolled plates for manufacturing rigid protection elements for vehicles: off-road, medical and public utility vehicles, as well as other equipment operating in areas being shelled. Recently, the group has designed armoured shields to protect operators of large-calibre weapons from enemy fire.
Since the start of the war, Metinvest has produced more than 80,000 anti-tank hedgehogs, as well as spiked chains and mini-bastions.
To survive the difficult winter, the group has taken care of heating equipment for the military and civilians in advance. On its own and in cooperation with partners, it has manufactured 2,500 field stoves and is donating coal and wood.
In addition, more than 7,000 Metinvest employees serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive warm winter uniforms. Around UAH12 million has been allocated for this purpose.
To strengthen the army’s defence capability, the group is sourcing and delivering tactical equipment to Ukraine. It has already supplied soldiers with around 1,700 thermal imagers, 1,000 drones, 315 vehicles, including ambulances, and 1 million litres of fuel for vehicles.
More than 31,000 tourniquets and first-aid kits, other medical equipment, medicine and consumables from Metinvest are helping to save the lives of wounded soldiers.
Together with the PULSE charitable foundation, the group is promoting the development of tactical medicine in Ukraine. Metinvest has allocated almost UAH 5 million to organise training in the combat zone.
The Saving Lives project, created by Metinvest in coordination with the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, has become one of the largest humanitarian initiatives in Ukraine and has already helped almost 350,000 Ukrainians. In 10 months of the war, more than 4,000 tonnes of food and other essential items have been delivered from abroad.
In addition, as part of the Saving Lives project, hospitals have been provided with medicine, equipment and consumables worth more than EUR 240,000.
Humanitarian supplies are also being delivered to hospitals in Zaporizhia, Kryvy Rih, Kamianske, Pokrovsk and Avdiyivka under a separate programme launched by Metinvest and the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation. The total assistance to medical institutions under the two projects amounts to almost UAH 170 million.
The group is also supplying oxygen to Ukrainian hospitals and installing backup power supply systems in medical institutions. Since the beginning of the year, medical institutions have received 1,500 tonnes of oxygen to treat coronavirus patients and other oxygen-dependent patients.
Since autumn, Saving Lives and the Protez Hub project, created to support prosthetics in Ukraine, have been taking care of prosthetics for Ukrainians affected by the war. To date, 18 people are receiving assistance: Metinvest’s employees, military personnel and employees of public utilities.
