In Kryvyi Rih, a traditional meeting of veterans was held within the framework of the "Speak Up, Veteran" project, which has been implemented since last year with the support of Metinvest Group and the City Defense Council. The events are organized by the NGO "Kryvyi Rih Foundation of the Future". This time, veterans were invited – employees of Kryvyi Rih iron ore enrichment enterprises, and the topic of discussion was the challenges that veterans face upon return, including the registration of preferences, support for former military personnel and their family members, etc.
The veteran policy at Metinvest's enterprises is implemented systematically and has a clear action plan. This provides effective support for employees from the mobilization stage, during their stay in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and return to enterprises. It complements the general veteran policy that has been formed and operates in Kryvyi Rih. The next meeting under the auspices of the "Speak up, Veteran" project was attended by 35 invited veterans – employees of the Iron Ore.
"If we talk about Integrated Iron Ore , then we have almost 2.5 thousand employees mobilized into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and 250 of them have already returned to their teams. Unfortunately, most of them have the consequences of serious injuries, so we find professions for them in which they can work. At our enterprises, veterans can use extended health insurance, as well as receive free psychological assistance. We support the families of veterans, in particular, we heal the children of the heroes. And to improve their knowledge or get a new profession, we offer them training on preferential terms at Metinvest Polytechnic University. There, our defenders can get education in those majors that are most in demand in production," said Andriy SCHERBAK, HR and Social Issues Director of Metinvest Iron Ore.
More than 600 social and administrative services for veterans and their families are provided in the Kryvyi Rih office "Veteran" and in the "Visa" center. Specialists of departments and divisions of the executive committee of the city council spoke at the meeting about all the cases of city and state support, about who the veteran's assistants are, how many rehabilitation centres have been created in the city for soldiers.
"Veterans have become more informed in our city. And this event is held specifically for this purpose, so that our veterans know what they can use, what rehabilitation, social and administrative services to receive, where and how to do it," said Serhiy BINDIUG, Head of the Department for Veterans Affairs of Kryvyi Rih City Council Executive Committee.
Oleksandr Salahor defended the country in the ranks of the National Guard for almost two years, was wounded in battles in the Donetsk region. Recently, after treatment and rehabilitation, he returned to his team of the Northern Iron Ore. The veteran says: So far, he has not yet learned much about the opportunities under support programs, so when the enterprise offered to take part in the meeting, he immediately agreed.
"This is my first time at such an event. I came to find out in general what programs we have for veterans. Maybe I will need something myself, maybe there will be something I can recommend my sworn brothers. I listened and so far I like everything. Maybe something will prove useful. For example, I need to go to the dentist. And I was also interested in swimming, I will probably join in," said Oleksandr SALAGOR, a maintenance fitter of Metinvest Northern Iron Ore.
In total, during the event, representatives of the mobile office of the Visa Center provided 15 consultations on the registration of real estate, privatization of property and registration of benefits for veterans and their family members, as well as provided two administrative services.
"At the start of the project "Speak up, Veteran", together with the City Defense Council and Metinvest, we were worried about whether we were moving in the right direction, or whether there would be feedback from our heroes. This is not an easy process – to understand what exactly they need, to involve certain experts. And so far I can say for sure that we have succeeded. The project is alive, more and more veterans are joining it, and assistance to them is expanding," said Olena LESCHENKO, Director of the NGO "Kryvyi Rih Foundation of the Future".
