Energetic, positive, and passionate about his work. That is how colleagues describe Maksym Yaroshenko – a war veteran and employee at Zaporizhstal
Maksym joined the company straight after completing his studies in 2017. He started as an electrician and gradually mastered the complex work of repairing and commissioning the plant’s weighing systems. He was helped in taking his first professional steps by his mentor, Stanislav Buhaichenko, an experienced electrical engineer. Back then, in peacetime, Stanislav taught Maksym the finer points of the profession, passed on his knowledge and supported his young colleague.
"The work is painstaking; it requires attention to detail and good eyesight. There are many weighing systems at the plant, and they all must be accurate and reliable. Now, with power cuts happening, the equipment breaks down more often, so there’s plenty of work,” says Maksym.
With the start of the Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Maksym volunteered to defend his country. He initially served in the territorial defence forces, and later as a sapper in the 703rd Separate Operational Support Regiment.
"When I was in the territorial defence forces, I thought: they won’t get this far, so I went to them. I trained as a sapper. They didn’t want to take me for a long time because I had no experience, but they took me in the end. Then our brigade was sent to my home region of Zaporizhzhia, where I served the whole time," recalls Maksym.
Maksym served in the Zaporizhzhia sector, where he was involved in mine clearance. He received five awards for his service, including the Order ‘For Courage’.
In July 2023, during a counter-offensive in the Zaporizhzhia sector, whilst carrying out a mine-clearing operation near Robotyne, Maksym was blown up by an enemy mine. His comrades quickly evacuated him to a triage point and then to hospital. For six months, doctors fought to save his leg, but due to the severity of the injury, it had to be amputated above the knee. In the autumn of 2023, the veteran turned to the Brave Step centre, where he was fitted with a prosthesis. Within a month, he was walking again.
After receiving his prosthesis and completing rehabilitation, Maksym returned to an active life and to work at Zaporizhstal. Metinvest and Zaporizhstal provided financial support to Maksym during his recovery from his injury. The company’s plants operate a programme to help veterans return to civilian life, offering medical insurance, training and workplace adaptation.
The veteran was warmly welcomed and supported at the plant. Today, Maksym works as an electronics engineer repairing and configuring the electronics of the plant’s weighing systems: flashing controllers, configuring software, and repairing sensors and power supply units.
And it is fitting that he now works in the very same place of his mentor, Stanislav Buhaichenko. Stanislav once helped Maksym learn the profession, and now, whilst Stanislav is defending the country on the front line, Maksym is carrying on his work with dignity in the workshop.
"I was given a warm welcome at the plant – a very warm one, just like family. At first, they looked after me, but I made it clear to everyone that I didn’t need it, and that my injury doesn’t make me special. Yes, I have an iron leg now, but I walk well. At the plant, people sometimes don’t even realise I’m wearing a prosthesis. I believe that even in such a situation, one must live a full life. Nothing terrible happened,” says Maksym.
Maksym owes his optimism and energy to his wife and children. Outside of work, he is inspired by his two daughters – seven-year-old Liia and two-year-old Nikol.
“The children are the biggest source of encouragement. With them, you can’t just sit at home at the weekend – you must go somewhere, go for a walk, always keep moving. So, I don’t even think about the injury,” he smiles.
Another source of strength is sport. Maksym plays football for the Zaporizhzhia amputee football team ‘Sich’. Three times a week, Maksym takes to the pitch with the team – they train in all weathers: rain or snow, practising moves and chatting. The team is currently preparing for the League of the Strong Amputee Football Cup and plans to get their own back on the Kyiv club.
"The atmosphere on the football pitch is brilliant – most of the guys are war veterans. It’s like being back among your own kind. We’ve got things in common to talk about, and there’s a strong team spirit. I used to play football back at school, and now, after my injury, I’ve returned to the sport – and I love it. I invite all guys who have been wounded: come and give this sport a go; I assure you, you’ll love it. You’ve got to live life to the full," says Maksym.
Maksym Yaroshenko’s story is one of strength, optimism and faith in life after the war. It shows that even after serious injuries, it is possible to return to work, sport, family and the things you love.
A comprehensive reintegration programme is in place for veterans at Zaporizhstal and other Metinvest enterprises, including VETERAN medical insurance, psychological rehabilitation, professional adaptation, retraining and mentoring. The company funds the treatment of injuries, offers ‘Veteran camps’ and works to adapt teams to welcome demobilised employees. Currently, over 250 veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war are employed at Zaporizhstal.
