Metinvest Group was the winner of the UN Global Compact in Ukraine’s Partnership for Sustainability Award 2025 in the “Rebuilding Ukraine” category for the creation of the first steel underground hospital on the front line. The project was recognised for its contribution to saving lives and strengthening medical resilience in areas affected by active hostilities.
The Partnership for Sustainability Award represents the most prestigious form of recognition in the fields of corporate sustainability and ESG (environmental, social and governance). The annual award recognises the best partnership-based projects implemented by business, government and civil society. These initiatives are aimed at achieving Sustainable Development Goals, protecting the environment, addressing social and economic challenges and promoting peace. Since 2018, the award has brought together more than 600 examples of successful partnership that have become benchmarks for sustainable leadership.
This year, 150 applications from 22 countries were submitted to the competition, of which 93 projects were shortlisted for the final stage. The projects were evaluated by an independent international jury, which included experts from Harvard University, the London School of Economics, the World Economic Forum, the Basel Institute on Governance and other leading international institutions.
Winners were selected in seven categories. The “Rebuilding Ukraine” category covered initiatives supporting Ukraine’s defenders, providing humanitarian assistance to civilians, demining and evacuation efforts, the protection of human rights and reconstruction projects.
Metinvest Group created Ukraine’s first underground medical stabilisation point on the front line in coordination with the Medical Forces ‘East’. The steel hospital is installed at a depth of six metres and is equipped with utilities, electronic warfare protection systems, as well as alternative power sources and safety systems. Inside, it includes a laboratory, surgical equipment, oxygen concentrators, a ventilator, defibrillators and other essential medical devices. In terms of equipment and capability, the facility meets NATO standards for second-echelon field hospitals (Role/Echelon 2), ensuring a high level of medical care close to the line of active hostilities.
“This hospital has already saved the lives of around 4,000 servicemen carrying out combat missions 8–10 kilometres from the line of contact. Recently, one such unit suffered a direct strike from three aerial bombs. Thanks to the hospital, people were saved. Thank God, the entire unit survived,” said Roman KUZIV, Commander of the Medical Forces ‘East’.
The stabilisation point provides resuscitation, treatment and patient care until discharge or evacuation to another inpatient medical facility. It has two operating theatres, enabling medical teams to carry out a wide range of emergency surgical procedures simultaneously, without the need to transport the wounded to distant hospitals. The hospital can receive up to 100 wounded patients daily.
“Underground hospitals are our proprietary solution, created on the basis of steel bunker shelters. When it comes to saving the lives of defenders, every minute is critical. That is why locating stabilisation points close to the front line and keeping them concealed from the enemy allows medics to work safely and deliver timely care. This Ukrainian engineering innovation has already proven its effectiveness and has attracted the interest of one of the world’s leading armies,” said Oleksandr MYRONENKO, chief operating officer of Metinvest Group.
The UN Global Compact in Ukraine is the official local network of the world’s largest community of responsible businesses that are fostering an ESG-based culture. The initiative brings together more than 25,000 participants in 167 countries. The Ukrainian network includes nearly 150 companies from across the country and economy. Metinvest Group joined the UN Global Compact in 2010.
