Kyiv, 03 April 2023 – Rinat Akhmetov launched six Heart of Azovstal programmes today to support the heroes who bravely fought to defend Mariupol and their families. Mr Akhmetov has allocated UAH 1 billion ($25 million) to the project in the initial phase.
Rinat Akhmetov said, "I have made a decision to launch the Heart of Azovstal, a project designed to help Mariupol defenders and the families of fallen soldiers. Their acts of bravery are unparalleled in modern history. Their sacrifice and courage helped contain the enemy in the first months of the war and let us feel the inevitability of Ukraine's victory now.”
The project is named after the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol, the site of the famed resistance against the Russian invasion from March to May 2022. Azovstal is owned by Metinvest, part of Mr Akhmetov’s SCM Group. The Heart of Azovstal is part of Steel Front, an initiative supporting Ukraine’s military forces by providing them with the equipment they need to push the aggressor out of Ukraine, including production of body armor, modular dugouts, and other equipment for free.
The Heart of Azovstal was developed in consultation with experts, partner organisations, advisors, and the defenders of Mariupol themselves. As a result of the consultations, the project is delivering six key programs:
Health: Treatment and rehabilitation program, including medical assistance, prosthetic treatment, and psychological support.
Return: Assistance to prisoners who have just been released from captivity.
Family: Supporting the families of the killed, captured, and missing defenders, including recreation and health improvement services and leisure activities for children.
Sport: Rehabilitation exercises, sports club memberships, and support for veterans competing in national and international competitions, such as the Invictus Games.
Defence: Legal support to help secure benefits and other support from the government and on different issues as required.
Future: Assistance with the transition to civilian life, including education, employment, and help with starting a business.
Ksenia Sukhova, the Heart of Azovstal project manager, said, “We are very open to partnerships with anyone who has experience of looking after veterans and their families. We are keen to learn from other people in Ukraine and from around the world, both to help the defenders of Mariupol and to help develop our own best practices for Ukraine.”
Potential partners should go to: https://steelfront.scm.com.ua/en/about-heart-of-azovstal. (https://steelfront.scm.com.ua/en/about-heart-of-azovstal) Alternatively, please call +38 (068) 083 88 00 or email heart.azovstal@gmail.com
At the beginning of the full-scale war, Metinvest’s shareholder Rinat Akhmetov told me to do everything to ensure Ukraine's victory. However, victory is not limited to military superiority and the defeat of invaders in the future. Our victory as a nation lies in the tireless support of those who have been defending our country. No one can say today when we will liberate Ukraine, but I know for sure that the defenders of our freedom and identity must feel needed in civilian life. That is why the Heart of Azovstal project is a much-needed initiative that should become a model for the adaptation of all Ukrainian defenders and support for their families.
— Yuriy Ryzhenkov, CEO of Metinvest Group
