Recently, the Zaporizhstal employee has celebrated his 75th anniversary. The honoured open-hearth furnace worker has received congratulations from Zaporizhstal's management and colleagues.

"Our senior colleagues have been working at Zaporizhstal for decades, and their hard work has set a great example for the next generation of steel workers. And today we follow in their footsteps - selflessly, responsibly, professionally," said Volodymyr RYBACHONOK, Head of Zaporizhstal's Human Resources Department.

Ivan Ivanovych devoted his entire life to the plant, had great respect among his colleagues, and taught more than one generation of Zaporizhstal workers the intricacies of the profession. After the college, he worked as a steel-casting operator and from time to time acted as a foreman. And in 2003, Ivan Kuzmenko’s conscientious work and professionalism was noted at the state level: an experienced Zaporizhstal worker was honoured with the “Honoured Metallurgist of Ukraine” title. He says that he is most proud of this award because it is a collective merit of the team.

"They say that there are no former metallurgists, and this is true. After 40 years of work at Zaporizhstal, you will forever remain a metallurgist. And I'm proud of it. In your mind you often return to those times, remembering how you, together with your colleagues, were pouring newly received steel into moulds,” says Ivan KUZMENKO.

Even now, when the veteran is already on a well-deserved rest, he is always interested in the life of the plant – he keeps in touch with colleagues, reads the news.

"Of course, as before, it is interesting and important for me to know how the plant lives now. As soon as I hear somewhere that they are talking about Zaporizhstal, I immediately try to find out what exactly. It’s impossible to just let it go, because this is my whole life,” the veteran added.