Throughout spring 2026, Metinvest's mining enterprises carried out planned works to expand green areas. These activities were undertaken to suppress dust and improve the environmental condition in Kryvyi Rih and neighbouring communities. The works were performed as part of the implementation of municipal and regional environmental programmes.
Annual efforts to expand green spaces in an industrial city are a shared responsibility of the Kryvyi Rih community and the enterprises operating within its territory. Joint actions contribute to improving the overall state of the environment, enhancing air quality, reducing noise levels, and improving the living environment for residents and visitors.
This year, spring greening activities at Metinvest Integrated Iron Ore were actively carried out at the tailings storage facility of Northern Iron Ore. In its southern section, which borders the Damanskyi residential area, 20,000 m² of the dam slope at the +155 m elevation mark was sown with plants used for ecological land restoration. A total of 260 kg of woad (Isatis tinctoria) seeds were used for sowing. This biennial plant grows to a height of 50–100 cm and forms large leaf rosettes and a strong taproot from its first year of growth. Environmental specialists believe that this grass, which is typical of the Ukrainian steppe, will establish itself successfully on the dam slope.
"Herbaceous plants are valuable allies in our fight against dust generation. As tailings storage facilities are an integral part of mining and processing operations, we employ a variety of environmental measures to prevent the wind erosion of dried surfaces and the spread of dust. Green technologies have proven highly effective in this regard. On the slopes of containment dams, we are experimenting with different steppe grasses that create a natural filter. On the dry sections of the tailings storage facility, cereal crops, particularly rye, have shown the best results. Last autumn, we sowed a total of 200 hectares with winter grain across the Metinvest Integrated Iron Ore," said Nataliia BILOZOROVA, Head of the Environmental Protection Department at Metinvest Integrated Iron Ore.
Also this spring, at the planned initiative of the United Mining and Processing Company and in agreement with the Karpiv Village Council, an alley of 300 young linden trees was planted in the recreational zone of the village of Shyroka Dacha along an artificial reservoir. To organize the landscaping of this area, European linden seedlings 120-150 cm high were purchased, holes were drilled, soil was prepared and plants were properly planted. Linden was preferred for its durability, unpretentiousness to growing conditions and climate change, beauty and benefits. The main condition for the survival of this tree is a sufficient amount of moisture, which will be facilitated by the proximity to the reservoir, as well as the absence of grazing by domestic animals in the landscaping zone until the trees grow up and gain strength.
– Year after year, Metinvest enterprises in Kryvyi Rih plan and implement environmental projects that make the working city better and cleaner. We are returning to nature a share of what it gives us all – rich resources, work and stable prospects. And this is not about a heavy duty, but about a responsible attitude towards the environment and care for the future of the city, – says Natalia BILOZYOROVA, Head of the Environmental Protection Department of Metinvest OGZK.
