Working with the military, Group enterprises in Zaporizhzhia have developed and are manufacturing for free special mobile metal shelters used for defence purposes.
The Zaporizhzhia-based enterprises of Rinat Akhmetov and Vadym Novinskyi’s Metinvest and military specialists have designed special mobile shelters. They are in the form of metal ‘capsules’, which are buried 1-1.5 metres underground. For extra safety, wooden beams are placed on top.
“We have been fortifying since the beginning of March,” said Oleksandr STARUKH, head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration. “Wood was brought to us from six regions of Ukraine, and the equipment came from 10 regions. The work is currently done by special units of engineering troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Our task is to ensure that the components are delivered to them on time. We are enhancing our lines, which are hundreds of kilometres long and have hundreds of strongholds, so that our guys have a place to stay.”
One ‘capsule’ costs around UAH200,000, although Metinvest supplies them free of charge. The Group’s enterprises have manufactured ten such shelters, eight of which have been installed, and two more have been shipped to the front line. According to the military, properly equipped positions will prevent the enemy from advancing and will help to save soldiers’ lives. In addition, the ‘capsules’ can be equipped with beds and heat-insulated.
“In the future, we plan to manufacture 20 of them a month,” said Mykola PETRIAKOV, director of Engineering at Zaporizhstal. “We have a design and a drawing. We can share it with anyone who is willing to join. This development existed even in Soviet times, but our specialists and the Armed Forces decided to improve it, reduce the dimensions and make it more mobile to make its assembly easier under enemy fire.”
According to Major Oleksandr Pikovets, commander of the engineering battalion, the ‘capsule’ can be easily assembled and disassembled. The shelters are made of corrugated steel, which can withstand hits from 150-millimetre shells
“It is one of the most handy and reliable developments,” said Major PIKOVETS. They can be used as showers, dining rooms or even barracks. The structure can take different sizes.”
The biggest advantage of the metal ‘capsule’ is its mobility. It is assembled from several elements weighing up to 50 kilogrammes, so it takes just a couple of people to carry and assemble it.
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