In celebration of the 92nd anniversary of the enterprise's foundation, Zaporizhstal awarded 50 employees who made the greatest contribution to ensuring the plant's stable operation during the war with certificates of honour and cash prizes.
This year, awards were presented to employees who demonstrated innovative thinking and implemented initiatives that helped the company save valuable resources. Among them is Oleksii Krainyk, Head of the Electrical Equipment Repair Section of the Hot Rolling Mill. He designed a system for monitoring and recording electricity consumption and played a key role in automating the ventilation process at the rolling mill, significantly enhancing the plant’s energy efficiency.
"For me, it is important not merely to perform my duties, but to seek solutions that make production more efficient. When you see that your idea has helped save resources and improve processes, it motivates you to keep moving forward,” noted Oleksii KRAINYK.
The award was also presented to Yuliia Kuripets, a Controller in ferrous metal production. She has been working at the plant for 11 years and is responsible for ensuring compliance with technology and standards so that Zaporizhstal’s steel remains competitive on the market.
"It is gratifying when your work is noticed and appreciated. We are all doing important work – ensuring the quality of products on which the company’s reputation depends,” said Yuliia.
For the fourth consecutive year, the team of Zaporizhstal is celebrating the enterprise's anniversary amid the full-scale war. Despite the challenges, the plant remains one of the most powerful metallurgical enterprises in Ukraine. It is the place where every third tonne of iron, steel, and rolled products is produced, shaping the foundation of industry and strengthening the country's defence capability.
Over 92 years of operation, the plant has produced more than 260 million tonnes of iron, 278 million tonnes of steel, and 218 million tonnes of rolled products. The company’s products are exported to more than 40 countries worldwide, ensuring a steady inflow of foreign currency into the Ukrainian economy.
“Zaporizhstal is more than just a steelworks. It is about jobs, the well-being of thousands of families, support for social projects, assistance for the army, tax payments, fostering the national economy, and preserving the export potential of Ukraine. These are traditions of a strong team of professionals, resilient and determined people. Zaporizhstal is more than 1,300 defenders who joined the army to protect the integrity of Ukraine. It is also metallurgical dynasties with a combined working experience exceeding 5,000 years. I am grateful to every member of our team for their resilience and strength, unity, responsibility, commitment, and dedication to the profession," noted Taras SHEVCHENKO, Acting General Director of Zaporizhstal and Hero of Ukraine.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Zaporizhstal and other Metinvest enterprises in Zaporizhzhia have transferred over UAH 10.6 billion in taxes and fees to national and local budgets. The plant also implements socially important programmes for the community, helping war veterans and their families, supporting vulnerable groups, and contributing to the elimination of the consequences of shelling and the restoration of damaged infrastructure.
Despite the challenging economic situation, Zaporizhstal has gradually increased its capital investments in production during the war: investments were UAH 500 million in 2022, UAH 750 million in 2023, and UAH 938 million in 2024. In 2025, the capital investment budget exceeds UAH 1 billion. The key areas of the investment programme remain supporting industrial and treatment facilities, modernising production, improving working conditions, implementing new technologies, enhancing workplace safety, and more.
The enterprise also supports young people, who make up more than 25% of the workforce. As a tradition for the plant's anniversary, it is planned to hold the 49th scientific and technical conference of working and student youth. The employees of Zaporizhstal, Zaporizhcoke, Zaporizhzhia Refractories, and students of Metinvest Polytechnic and other educational institutions in Zaporizhzhia will present their projects aimed at improving production processes. The authors of the best projects will be awarded, and their ideas will be implemented.
