In the solemn atmosphere of the Palace of Culture "Central", pensioners of Metinvest Group enterprises were congratulated on their professional holiday. More than 50 former employees of the company took part in the festive meeting, where they were thanked for many years of work, professionalism and contribution to the development of mining and metallurgical production.

On the eve of the Day of Metallurgical and Mining Workers, a festive meeting was held in Kryvyi Rih for pensioners of Metinvest Group enterprises. The event "Generation Hardened by Years" was organized jointly with the "Respectable Age" charity foundation. More than 50 former employees of Inguletsky, Central, Northern GOKs and Metinvest Machinery gathered here, who devoted decades of their working lives to the development of enterprises, the development of production and the formation of professional expertise, which they passed on to younger colleagues.

The guests of the holiday were addressed by the head of the direction for work with trade union organizations of Metinvest Group Mikhail Tsurkan.

– We incredibly appreciate your experience and are proud to have learned from you and worked side by side. It was you who once gave the right impetus, thanks to which the current generation of miners, even during the war, is able to adequately hold the production front.

Today, almost 50 thousand people work at Metinvest's enterprises. Eight thousand of our colleagues are currently defending the country in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Since the beginning of the war, the company has focused on preserving teams, supporting the country, peaceful communities, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

On behalf of the company's management, I congratulate you on the holiday and wish you steel health, metal endurance and strength to keep the order for many years to come.

The current meeting was held at a special time. This year, Metinvest Group celebrates 20 years of its work in Ukraine. The same number of years have passed since mining workers had their own professional holiday.

Andriy SHCHERBAK, Director for Human Resources and Social Affairs of the Intergrated GOK of Metinvest, congratulated the older generation of miners on a significant day for them.

– The Day of the Metallurgist and Miner is a professional holiday that is very important for each of you. This is the day of people who created the history of the enterprise, built its reputation, passed on knowledge and traditions to the next generations.

Each of you left a piece of yourself in this story – years of hard work, professionalism, responsibility, support of colleagues. It is on this foundation that our company operates today. And we understand well: Everything we have now has become possible thanks to you in particular - people who have been conscientiously doing their job for many years.

Today we want not only to congratulate you on the holiday, but also to sincerely thank you. For your work. For resilience. For the example you left for those who continue to work today.

From the bottom of my heart I wish you good health, peace, well-being, family warmth, care of loved ones and as many reasons for joy as possible. May every day bring peace, smiles and confidence that your work was not in vain and will forever remain an important part of the history of our enterprise.

From congratulatory words to honouring the guests. Among the awardees are worthy representatives of all technical professions in demand in the mining industry. Most of these people have devoted more than four decades to working in enterprises. They have witnessed the introduction of the latest technologies and the launch of new production processes. Gennadiy Totskyi was directly involved in the commissioning of the magnetic-flotation concentrate processing site at Ingulets GOK.

– I came to the mining industry in 1977. At Ingulets GOK, I started as a pumping units operator, then I was a foreman, shift supervisor, deputy head of the site, where an important modernization project for the plant was implemented for the first time. We began to use the magnetic flotation method in ore enrichment. At that time, it was a big breakthrough in technology. It is pleasant to remember this, and especially the people with whom I worked, - shared his memories of the pensioner of InGOK Gennady TOTSKIY.

For many older people, the profession has become a lifelong affair. They went from working specialties to managerial positions, received the highest corporate awards and left behind dozens of completed production projects. Konstantin BALAKHONOV from the North, winner of the title of "Person of the Year" and the Gold Star of Metinvest, recalls: 

– What did I receive awards for? I just worked hard and responsibly, because at that time the factory was implementing large-scale investment projects to modernize equipment, in particular to replace filters. It was necessary, as they say, to put my heart into making everything work as it should. I have worked in one place for 46 years. As I once entered one door, so I retired through the same one.

After going on a well-deserved rest, pensioners do not stay away from the life of enterprises. They are interested, rejoice at success, experience the same as they did many years ago. Concerned and sincere, they support the Ukrainian military, participate in volunteer initiatives, and their centres at the plants help maintain a strong connection between people who have been united by years of joint work.

– For half a century, I worked at the Central GOK in various positions, but all the time in the railway transport department. It was the experience of working as a dispatcher, shift supervisor, head of the technical department. Memories of those years are always very warm, the best. Today, my colleagues and I try to maintain the tradition of meetings, helping each other, and communicating. And this event is a good gift for us, – says Raisa ASTAKHOVA, a pensioner of the Central GOK.

Metinvest holds festive meetings of the older generation of miners for the professional holiday every year. They unite people, give warm memories, sincere conversations and the opportunity for the current generation of the company's employees to once again thank those who created the history of the mining and metallurgical industry of Kryvyi Rih with their work.