Metinvest supports Ukraine's defenders by implementing a comprehensive assistance programme across its enterprises. An important part of this programme for several years has been the "Speak Up. Veteran" project. As part of this initiative, a discussion panel was held at one of the educational institutions in the Inhulets district. Participants discussed challenges, stereotypes, and ways to build open dialogue between defenders and civilians without combat experience.
Learning to understand, listen to, and support one another in order to jointly find solutions to important social issues was the goal of the event. In Kryvyi Rih, at a lyceum in the Inhulets district, the seventh discussion panel within the "Speak Up. Veteran” project has already taken place. Over the past few years, this initiative has become a space of trust and openness. The project is implemented with the support of Metinvest in cooperation with the City Defence Council and the NGO "Kryvyi Rih Foundation for the Future."
"At the beginning, we ourselves had more questions than answers. But today I can say that our joint efforts with Metinvest have not been in vain. We have held a number of discussion panels where we invited veterans and specialised experts in legal, medical, psychological, and social issues, as well as benefits, and more. Of course, we also place great emphasis on building respectful communication with defenders who have returned from the front," said Olena LESHCHENKO, Director of the NGO "Kryvyi Rih Foundation for the Future."
Today, thousands of employees work at Metinvest enterprises. Metinvest Consolidated Iron Ore Plants, which remain one of the largest employers in the region, consistently support defenders.
"Currently, the workforce of Metinvest Consolidated Iron Ore Plants exceeds 10,000 people. At the moment, more than 2,500 of our employees are defending the homeland and fighting the enemy. Some of them have already returned to their workplaces, and today there are about 230 such employees across the plants. We have support programmes for veterans, including psychological support services, as well as training and retraining programmes. We also offer the opportunity to receive higher education at Metinvest Polytechnic," noted Andrii SHCHERBAK, Director of HR and Social Affairs.
An important part of supporting veterans is face-to-face communication. Defenders who have returned to work at Metinvest enterprises took part in the latest open dialogue. Among the participants was Oleksandr Luhovskyi. His story is an example of strength and unwavering faith. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he stood up to defend the country. He went through the hottest areas of the front and sustained a severe injury that resulted in the loss of his arm. Today, Oleksandr is back in service at the plant. He now works as a maintenance shop foreman and actively participates in sports events while sharing his experience with young people.
"I was pleased that the children were interested in talking with us. They discussed issues such as how the city should be adapted to be accessible for defenders who have lost their sight or limbs. We talked about installing ramps and lifts in institutions, and about appropriate behaviour in shops. It is no secret that there are situations when people want to help but do not know how to communicate with a defender," shared Oleksandr LUHOVSKYI, a war veteran from Inhulets Iron Ore.
The discussion panel became a dialogue between generations. Veterans shared their frontline experiences and spoke about their present lives, while school students reflected on the challenges veterans face after returning, the role of society in their adaptation, and emphasised the importance of youth support for these heroes. Representatives of the city authorities also joined the discussion.
"In the city, meetings are constantly held with veterans and their families, as well as with the families of the fallen and the missing. To support defenders, a comprehensive programme has been adopted in Kryvyi Rih, covering many areas of work, including social support, physical rehabilitation through sport, as well as medical and legal assistance," said Serhii BINDIUH, Deputy Director of the City Department of Social Policy and Head of the Veterans Affairs Department.
The format of the event was appreciated by lyceum student Herman BOKAICHUK. He believes that communication is the key to understanding each other's problems and finding solutions together.
"This experience will stay with me forever. Now I understand how important it is to spend time together, to support one another, to communicate with service members and veterans, and how to behave appropriately with them in society."
The "Speak Up. Veteran" project once again proved that mutual understanding, support, and shared responsibility are born through open dialogue.
