Excavator operator at Zaporizhstal’s Railway Transport Department, Liudmyla Romanko, isn’t afraid of change – she drives it.She began her career at Zaporizhstal in 2017 as a shift supervisor in the hot rolling shop. Recently, she decided to take a completely new direction and learn to operate an excavator. To do so, she completed specialised training and quickly returned to her home plant.“I’ve always been fascinated by large, heavy machinery and wanted to work with cranes and excavators. So, when the opportunity arose, I completed the training, got my license, and returned to Zaporizhstal – but this time as an excavator operator in the Railway Transport Department,” says Liudmyla ROMANKO.Liudmyla first practised her new skills at a training site alongside experienced railway workers. But she quickly transitioned to full-fledged work, proving her ability to handle all tasks with excellence.“Liudmyla immediately stood out as a skilled and responsible professional. In addition to her ma

This winter, children at the "Berizka" kindergarten and the Zelenopolska Gymnasium branch in Hleyuvatskyi community studied in warmth and comfort. With the support of Metinvest's Iron Ores in Kryvyi Rih, a major roof reconstruction of both institutions was carried out in full compliance with fire safety regulations.Kindergarten "Berizka" is the only preschool in six villages of the Chervonensky council of prefects within Hleyuvatskyi community, home to over 1,200 residents. The two-storey building was originally constructed in 1968, and since then, only routine maintenance has been carried out. In recent years, the most pressing issue had been the roof, which required not just repairs but a complete reconstruction. Thanks to a request from the community and a cooperation agreement between the Hleyuvatskyi Village Council, Metinvest Iron Ores, and the NGO "Kryvyi Rih Foundation of the Future" – which oversaw the project's coordination – the problem was successfully resolved.It took the

Yuriy Ryzhenkov, CEO of Metinvest Group, took part in the BBC Talking Business multimedia programme where he spoke about the losses of assets, logistical and energy challenges, support for the army and employees, working with veterans, as well as the prospects for investment and the recovery of Ukrainian industry.BBC Talking Business is a programme that offers in-depth analysis of key economic and business trends to an audience of 139 million people. It airs seven times a week on BBC News worldwide, three times in the UK and is also available on radio and online platforms. A special edition of Talking Business, dedicated to the third anniversary of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, discussed the state of Ukraine’s economy, its resilience and prospects for post-war restoration.Ryzhenkov said that the biggest challenge for business after three years of full-scale war is keeping people’s morale up. Specifically, their belief that Ukrainians can pull through, that every effort matt

A young crane operator shares her experience of employment at Zaporizhstal under the "First Job" program. Дар’я ЖУКОВСЬКА Daria ZHUKOVSKA is a young crane operator in the hot rolling shop at Zaporizhstal. She didn’t choose the profession by chance: after three years of college, she followed in her grandmother's footsteps and joined the plant."At first, I was very scared to work on the crane. Learning and practicing on simulators is one thing, but actually operating them in the workshop is a completely different experience I was worried that I wouldn't manage, that I might make a serious mistake," the crane operator admits. Валентина КАСІЯНЕНКО Daria joined the team less than a year ago, but she has already adapted to her workplace and become part of the collective. She is especially grateful to her colleague and experienced mentor, Valentyna KASIYANENKO."She taught me a lot. Even when I was very nervous and ready to give up, she supported me and boosted my confidence. Valentyna helped

Metinvest Group, together with its joint ventures, has been named Ukraine’s largest exporter in 2024 by Forbes Ukraine.The publication compiled a ranking of 50 companies that have made a significant contribution to promoting the “Made in Ukraine” brand worldwide and supporting the domestic economy.The rating is based on data on export operations from Ukraine’s largest companies, the ImportGenius customs database, and production and other industry statistics. Based on the breakdown of the country’s exports in 2024, the publication determined quotas for each industry: 14 companies in agriculture, five in food production, seven in mining and metals, six in IT, five in machine-building, and five in woodworking and furniture. In each sector, companies are ranked by the US dollar value of exports in 2024.According to Forbes Ukraine, in 2024, exports from the country’s mining and metals industry totalled US$7.3 billion and Metinvest’s exports, together with the Zaporizhstal joint venture, up

A Zaporizhstal employee, after eight years of working at the plant, has joined the military.Ukrainian women are incredible: strong and talented, persistent and hardworking, intelligent and resourceful. They show remarkable strength of spirit, support, and mutual assistance. Nowadays, no one is surprised to see a woman serving in the military, driving a truck, leading a company, or working in heavy industry.At Zaporizhstal alone, over 2,000 women specialists are employed. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, eight female employees of the plant have voluntarily joined the Ukrainian armed forces.Nataliia is a steelworker at the Zaporizhstal plant. She dedicated around eight years to working as a crane operator in the hot rolling shop. With the onset of the full-scale invasion, Nataliia became actively involved in volunteering.“After February 24th, my husband Vitalii mobilized and joined the National Guard of Ukraine. It was difficult to come to terms with the fact that we woul

A plant employee shares why she decided to tie her professional life to metallurgy and how it feels to work in a predominantly male team. We meet Hanna Babych in the very heart of Zaporizhstal – at the blast furnace. Although nearly a third of the plant's employees are women, in the blast furnace shop, this is more of an exception to the rule. Hanna is a crane operator working in the casting yard, side by side with gas workers and furnace operators."At the production site, I am responsible for the safe and precise movement of various loads, often heavy and oversized. This requires a high level of concentration and skill. Quick reaction time is crucial, but at the same time, you need to act calmly and without fuss," says Hanna BABYCH.Hanna followed in her parents’ footsteps into the steel profession – her mother worked as a crane operator, and her father was a steelmaker at Dniprospetsstal. Hanna also began her career at that enterprise but later moved to Zaporizhstal, where working co

Tetiana Petruk, Chief Sustainability Officer at Metinvest Group, noted that traditional approaches to implementing change, which companies use under stable and predictable conditions, do not work in wartime. Businesses must be creative and constantly seek new methods that are effective in the present moment. She shared the Group’s experiences during the HRD Club Ukraine meeting in Kyiv on 7 March, which focused on change management and the role of HR during periods of instability.The event brought together leading specialists to discuss key challenges and effective solutions for businesses. Participants in the discussion included Lidiya Grytsenko, HR Director at Ukrainian Railways, Alena Kavka from Kness and Samvel Akobyan, CEO of Lilo/Helsi.PETRUK stated: “The tools we used before the war – those we trusted and that previously delivered strong results – have now stopped working. We must now identify new methods that will be effective in today’s environment.”She noted that before the

In 2024, women represented 56% of all lawyers in Ukraine, with 53% of them holding key management positions. This figure is higher than in Spain, England, Wales, and other five countries surveyed by the International Bar Association (IBA). The editors of the "Vikna" website interviewed female leaders in the legal industry who are working in traditionally "male" fields to understand if real change has occurred in Ukraine. Among those interviewed was Angelina CHACHUNA, Head of the Compliance Officer Service at Metinvest Group. "The role of women in jurisprudence and business will be getting stronger"Angelina Chachuna joined Metinvest when the Group had more than 100,000 employees, each with their own understanding of business processes and cultural differences specific to individual countries. When she first started, she did not fully grasp the scope of competency required for her role, but clearly understood its importance in ensuring the effective operation of such a large company, An

Every day, nearly 3,800 female employees at Metinvest Iron Ore plants in Kryvyi Rih and contractor organisations perform essential work alongside their male colleagues. Under challenging conditions, they do physically demanding work that requires high levels of professionalism, precision, patience, and attention to details. Meanwhile, they continue to inspire those around them, support their families, and create a unique, comfortable atmosphere in both their work teams and homes. Olena Belan Olena Belan is the only one woman in a management team of Metinvest's mining department staffed merely with men. She leads a large division with hundreds of specialists responsible for ensuring technologically accurate production processes and delivering consistently high-quality products to consumers of Iron Ore plants. Her department significantly impacts the reputation and competitiveness of their plants. The work here naturally aligns with traditionally feminine qualities."Quality assurance an