Thanks to the iron will, high professionalism of its employees, and unwavering commitment to the country and its defenders, Metinvest's Kryvyi Rih mining and processing facilities continue to extract ore and produce iron ore products amid the ongoing war, contributing to the state budget and supporting the economy and the army.
Operating in the region, which is near the front lines, and facing a shortage of staff — many of whom are serving at the frontline — Metinvest's mining and processing plants have persevered through the third year of full-scale war. To maintain and boost production efficiency, Northern Iron Ore, Central Iron Ore, and Inhulets Iron Ore combined their efforts last year, enabling them to operate their production sites as a single process chain.
Specifically, this involved supplying iron ore for processing between the plants, depending on the workload and efficiency of each plant's beatification facilities. This move improved the overall efficiency of the iron ore plants and enabled them to increase production of commodity concentrate and pellets, even amidst the economic crisis and falling global prices.
Metinvest’s Northern Iron Ore, Central Iron Ore, and Inhulets Iron Ore remained a steadfast support for the war-torn country, contributing UAH 5.7 billion to budgets at all levels last year. This played a vital role in stabilising the economy of Ukraine, the region, and Kryvyi Rih, where mining and metals businesses have been and still are the largest taxpayers.
Despite the ongoing challenges, Metinvest's iron ore plant remained committed to supporting six local communities around Kryvyi Rih and developing rural infrastructure last year. Efforts and funding were invested in re-roofing social facilities like schools, hospitals, and kindergartens. Additionally, the iron ore plants supported the renovation and repurposing of buildings. In the Lozuvata community, part of a kindergarten is being converted into a centre for administrative services, a police station, and a cultural space. In the Petrove community, the second floor of the Novostarodubsk Lyceum was renovated to house internally displaced persons and provide educational services. Last year, Metinvest helped repair sections of the roads in the Karpivka and Hleuvatka communities and resolve issues related to improving the water supply for the population.
The tireless Kryvyi Rih miners are already thinking about the future and the need for the country’s reconstruction. Throughout the third year of the war, the companies completed investment projects worth over UAH 2 billion. This year, an additional UAH 5.7 billion will be invested to ensure the sustainability of production. The bulk of these capital investments will go towards maintaining key equipment, creating alternative electricity sources, and ensuring safe, comfortable workplaces for all employees of the iron ore plants, including veterans returning from the war.
Over the course of the three years of full-scale war, 2,400 specialists from Metinvest's iron ore plants have joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They are defending our country in areas of the most intense fighting, proving that miners are anything but weak. The enterprises maintain constant contact with the soldiers, supplying them with the necessary gear and warm clothing. So far, 192 veterans of the Russo-Ukrainian war have returned to their jobs, trading their military uniforms for Metinvest workwear. The company's enterprises provide employment and re-adaptation support, free legal and psychological counseling, and retraining if necessary.
Unfortunately, the bloody war is taking the best from us. Since February 2022, 117 of our employees have returned from the battlefield "on a shield". The deadly reach of war, however, extends even to the rear cities. On 8 July 2024, a massive missile strike on Kryvyi Rih claimed the lives of ten individuals – employees of Northern Iron Ore and a contractor. Their lives were cut short by the war. We will always remember each and every one of them – their smiles, their voices, and their work, the legacy of which will live on at the enterprises forever.
We are immensely grateful to all our defenders for their courage and steadfastness, to our volunteers for their selflessness and tireless presence, to our donors – for every drop of blood they’ve shared with the wounded and sick, and to our long-serving employees from all iron ore plants – for every pair of warm socks, can of stewed meat, and trench candle. Though they may be tired, these people are never defeated!
