“Metinvest's steel saves and protects. This is the main idea that we rely on in our work when launching a particular product model to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Since the beginning of the war, it has been bulletproof vests, then steel shelters, additional armour, decoys of military equipment, and now steel lancet catchers for vehicles. Everyone knows that our enemy is cunning, so Metinvest has set itself the task of helping to beat his trump cards. One of them is lancet drones and other kamikaze drones, which have become a problem for the AFU. Now we can rejoice every time our lancet catcher saves the lives of soldiers and valuable equipment from enemy attacks. We are confident that all responsible Ukrainian businesses should pursue similar initiatives to help the AFU. Only by joining forces will we win,” said Oleksandr Myronenko, Chief Operating Officer of Metinvest. 

The structures are produced in close cooperation with the AFU and take into account the needs of the front line. The steel lancet catchers are designed to be as versatile as possible so that they can be used to camouflage and protect most models of equipment in combat areas, including self-propelled artillery systems, tanks, and vehicles for transporting personnel. During the deployment of the first samples at the front, the lancet catchers proved to be a reliable defensive component that stops enemy drones, including dangerous lancet drones, and protects equipment. 

The lancet catcher is highly mobile and requires minimal effort to set up at the front line without the need for additional equipment. Apart from being quick and easy to assemble, the structure is also easily maintained. Once it has fulfilled its purpose, the lancet catcher can be easily repaired. 

The weight of one mobile shelter, which is ten metres long, five metres wide and five metres high, is about one tonne. The shelter consists of a steel frame and a chain-link mesh with camouflage elements stretched over it. Metinvest can produce up to five lancet catchers per week. 

Since the first days of the full-scale invasion, Metinvest has been switching its production to a defence footing and has systematically helped Ukraine’s defenders and the AFU. Over the year and a half of the military aggression, the Group has already spent UAH 2 billion to support the defence forces as part of Rinat Akhmetov's Steel Front initiative. This includes 150,000 bulletproof vests, more than 200 mobile shelters, 250 models of military equipment, as well as thousands of drones and thermal imagers, vehicles, communications equipment and other military equipment purchased and donated to the AFU.