Best global practices for veteran support. Leaders of the Heart of Azovstal CSO and America’s Warrior Partnership (AWP), the American association of veteran organisations, have visited Kametstal in Kamianske and met with the plant’s veteran community.
The Heart of Azovstal is a project dedicated to supporting the defenders of Mariupol and their families. It is part of Rinat Akhmetov’s military initiative, Steel Front, that provides comprehensive support for Ukrainian military.
Over two years of active collaboration with veterans, the Heart of Azovstal has developed valuable practices, methodologies, and policies for veteran assistance. The organisation is eager to share this experience, particularly with communities and enterprises that employ veterans.
Kamianske was chosen as a pilot community for this programme, with a strategic focus on the cities and towns that host Metinvest Group’s key enterprises – socially responsible businesses committed to ensuring veterans’ seamless reintegration and personal growth.
A key highlight of the visit to Kametstal was the delegation’s stop at Kametstal where the Heart of Azovstal ambassadors, alongside their partners from America’s Warrior Partnership – the largest national association of veteran organisations in the U.S. – engaged with the local veteran community. As a nationwide alliance, AWP brings together veteran communities, businesses, and public and governmental institutions to create a stronger support system, ensuring a smoother transition for military personnel returning to civilian life.
During their visit, the guests toured the steel plant’s converter shop, where they gained insight into the steel production process. They also met with Kametstal’s General Director, Oleksandr Tretiakov, and engaged in open discussions with veteran employees at the newly established veteran hub, supported by Metinvest.
Currently, nearly 130 demobilised veterans are employed at Kametstal, while 720 employees are still serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). The company eagerly awaits their return, at which point they will join the enterprise’s growing veteran community. During an open and insightful discussion, representatives of the Heart of Azovstal and AWP reiterated their dedication to exchanging best strategies that empower veterans to reach their full potential.
Ксенія Сухова
Ksenia SUKHOVA, director of the Heart of Azovstal:
“Our goal is to share the experience our project has gained over two years of active work. Metinvest Group considers veteran support a top priority. Meetings like these are essential to ensure that veteran policies are shaped by veterans themselves so they can voice their needs and determine what truly matters to them. Companies that successfully implement veteran policies and create opportunities for self-fulfilment become natural hubs for veterans returning from service. They keep coming back to the workplace and to the city. Our mission is to equip these centres with everything veterans need: rehabilitation services, legal support, and the physical and psychological care that will help them reintegrate into civilian life as smoothly as possible."
Speaking about collaboration with American partners, Ksenia Sukhova emphasised AWP’s 20 years of expertise and its commitment to sharing both successful strategies and valuable lessons learned from past challenges. As part of this collaboration, the Heart of Azovstal veterans are preparing for a training visit to the United States, where they will gain firsthand experience and apply the acquired knowledge in communities where Metinvest operates. Recognising veterans as a vital asset to society, communities, and businesses, it is crucial to develop a high-quality local government programme that can fully harness their potential – an investment that strengthens both the present and future of the nation. “Supporting veterans in their journey to self-realisation is essential for their successful reintegration into civilian life and the full realisation of their potential. Each veteran’s path will be unique,” emphasised Ksenia Sukhova, Heart of Azovstal’s director.
Джим Лоррейн
Jim LORRAINE, President and CEO of America’s Warrior Partnership:
“I’m truly impressed by the range of opportunities available to veterans here in Kamianske. It’s clear that we, too, have a lot to learn from your team. In particular, I’d love to introduce some of your rehabilitation initiatives – like wellness therapies and gym programmes – into veteran programmes in the U.S. As a veteran myself, I know how important it is for us to support one another. Many of the people we spoke with today are also veterans, and their well-being matters. At Kametstal, 10% of employees are either veterans or active-duty military personnel – future veterans. Their physical and mental health directly impacts their families, their work, and the overall strength of the community. That’s why this work is so important.”
