Metinvest’s Iron Ore Works were among the first to provide assistance to Kryvyi Rih and the surrounding communities during the full-scale invasion. On the occasion of Ukraine’s Independence Day, we highlight the main areas of support.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Metinvest’s Kryvyi Rih enterprises have been actively cooperating with the city authorities in addressing issues of the city’s defence capability, providing humanitarian support to the community and internally displaced persons, delivering substantial assistance to hospitals in their reconstruction and resourcing, contributing to the creation of comfortable shelters in educational institutions, implementing a veterans’ policy, and participating in the volunteer movement.
Support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU)
Since the outbreak of hostilities in early 2022, when Kryvyi Rih found itself in close proximity to the front line, the company’s enterprises have been actively involved in building the city’s layered defence and strengthening checkpoints: They produced anti-tank and anti-personnel barriers, delivered sand, crushed stone, wooden beams and sleepers, installed electricity, and provided special equipment.
To support the living conditions of territorial defence fighters, they provided modular units, mattresses, lighting, and mobile baths. To enhance the mobility of the military in the early months of the war, they provided over 100 vehicles and tens of thousands of litres of fuel.
Since 2022, in cooperation with Kryvyi Rih Defence Council, Metinvest has been supporting Kryvyi Rih’s defenders and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The partnership enhances defence capability and mobilization readiness by providing military units with all necessary materials, special equipment, vehicles, and consumables for the repair of both automotive and military equipment, among other support.
Medicine
Hospitals in Kryvyi Rih serving as medical centres have received substantial support from Metinvest and the humanitarian project “Saving Lives.” Since the first months of the war, deliveries of medicines, consumables, and medical equipment worth 61 million hryvnias have been organised for them.
Additionally, with financial support from Metinvest, a CT scanner was installed at Kryvyi Rih Hospital No. 7. Equipment for autonomous power supply was purchased and installed at City Hospital No. 17, and funds were also allocated for the acquisition of household appliances to equip the hospital.
The largest project to date in which Metinvest has been involved is the major renovation of the outpatient building and the radiology department of Kryvyi Rih City Hospital No. 3. The company allocated nearly 125 million hryvnias for the extensive work.
In the summer of 2025, work began on the major renovation of the main inpatient building of City Hospital No. 7. Metinvest is allocating 61.6 million hryvnias for the development of project documentation, general construction, roofing, and façade works.
Humanitarian aid
One of the main areas of cooperation with Kryvyi Rih community during the war has been humanitarian support. At the beginning of spring 2022, a hub was established in Kryvyi Rih at Metinvest Central Iron Ore, serving as a key point for the humanitarian project “Saving Lives,” initiated by Metinvest in coordination with the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation.
During its operation, volunteers at Metinvest Central Iron Ore hub assembled 135,000 food packages, including for residents of Kryvyi Rih and the communities of Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Kherson, and other regions. To equip shelters for internally displaced persons staying in Kryvyi Rih, 2,500 bedding items – including mattresses, blankets, and pillows – were provided.
Security
Since 2023, Metinvest’s Iron Ore Works in Kryvyi Rih have been involved in converting the basements of city educational institutions into shelters. The largest projects were implemented in the Ingulets district.
At Lyceum No. 127 and Kindergarten No. 187, comfortable, modern shelters were created to allow offline learning during air raids, equipped with all necessary utilities: ventilation, lighting, water supply, and sewage systems.
The company allocated nearly 12 million hryvnias for these large-scale projects. Additionally, with Metinvest’s support, basic shelters were set up at the Polytechnic and Mining Colleges of KNU.
Veterans’ Policy
Since 2024, panel discussions have been held in Kryvyi Rih as part of the “Speak Up.Veteran” project, involving veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war and specialists from various social sectors. The purpose of these events is to identify the needs of veterans, inform them about available rehabilitation, social, and administrative services, and assist them in accessing benefits and support. The project is being implemented with the support of Metinvest and the City Defence Council.
Last year, the rehabilitation project “Free Waves,” implemented in cooperation with Metinvest Group, was included in Kryvyi Rih’s city strategy for veteran support. Its goal is the rehabilitation of defenders, veterans with disabilities, and those suffering from mental health disorders resulting from war-related injuries.
The rehabilitation and adaptive methods were developed by the distinguished Ukrainian athlete Denys Sylantiev, World and European swimming champion and Olympic medalist in Sydney. In Kryvyi Rih, the “Free Waves” swimming project is implemented at three municipal swimming pools.
