In recent days, some pro-Russian associations announced their intention to screen on January 20, 2024, in a municipal hall in Modena, a propaganda film shot in the city of Mariupol in Ukraine, currently occupied by the Russians. The film shows the alleged "prosperity" of the city after its conquest and destruction by the Russian army in 2022. We've recently learned that the Mayor of Modena, Gian Carlo Muzzarelli, has revoked the authorisation for the municipal hall. Unfortunately, this event is not the only one; pro-Russian movements are orchestrating similar activities across Italy, aiming to distort the truth about the war in Ukraine. Addressing these events requires a comprehensive approach at all levels of authority to prevent further dissemination of Russian propaganda.

Until February 24, 2022, Mariupol was the metallurgical capital of Ukraine. The city was home to two huge steel mills, Azovstal and MMKI, both belonging to the Metinvest Group. The Metinvest Trametal and Ferriera Valsider rolling mills in Italy are also part of the Metinvest Group.

There is a very strong economic bond between Ukraine and Italy, with tens of thousands of Group employees operating in both countries working toward the same goal: producing high-quality steel. This steel has been used to build iconic structures and works worldwide, from the Shard skyscraper in London to the new bridge in Genoa.

All of this, along with the peaceful life of millions of Ukrainians, came to an end on February 24, 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Mariupol was destroyed, tens of thousands of civilians were killed, mills were shut down and seized, and the defence of Azovstal by the Ukrainian armed forces became an example of national resistance against the aggressor. After a year and a half, nothing has changed. Metinvest companies seized by the occupiers are inactive. Occupation forces have demolished thousands of private homes to conceal their crimes, and the cemeteries on the city's outskirts are visible from satellites where Ukrainian civilians, victims of the Russian criminal regime, are buried in nameless graves. Hundreds of our employees and their families were killed in Mariupol. Among them were women and children. They were people who lived their peaceful lives and simply produced steel, which was then shipped by sea to Metinvest's Italian facilities.

On behalf of Metinvest Group employees in Italy and Ukraine, we address the Italian authorities and any involved entities.

We ask for intervention to prevent the spread of Russian propaganda in Italy in any form. This propaganda is built on the lives of tens of thousands of deceased residents of Mariupol. We ask to prevent the spread of Russian narratives based on values opposed to those upon which Italy and the European Union were founded.

We greatly appreciate the civilian and military assistance that Italy is providing to Ukraine. We hope that, thanks to the steel produced in Metinvest's Italian facilities, together with Italian companies, we can contribute to the real reconstruction of Mariupol after the city's liberation. The Mariupol Reborn project has already begun with Metinvest's support, and Italian partners will be able to participate. But the priority today is to counter and defeat the unacceptable propaganda funded by the Russian government.