Veterans, youth and community support: Ukrainian iron & steel companies continue to support the country

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian steel companies have been leaders in helping citizens and the country, and this work continues

Currently, we continue to provide systematic and large-scale support to local communities and people affected by the hostilities. The development of high-quality support programs for veterans and their families has become a requirement of the times. Despite the war, the iron and steel companies also continue to fulfill their social obligations, help rebuild the destroyed infrastructure, and implement large-scale educational programs aimed at young people.

Reintegration of veterans

The range of support provided by the iron and steel industry is quite broad, and it changes according to the current environment. One of the key areas for Ukrainian business today is the reintegration of veterans, their return to civilian life and teams, and ensuring decent working conditions.

Domestic iron and steel companies have already developed and are implementing comprehensive programs that provide former military personnel with the opportunity to undergo rehabilitation, continue their careers or start a new one.

Metinvest Group’s comprehensive veterans’ support system is based on three principles:

• fairness – an inclusive approach to work where every employee is important;
• responsibility – training all employees to interact with veterans through video courses and workshops;
• priority – attention to the needs of veterans that determine the direction of support programs.

Upon returning from the war, former military personnel are offered employment opportunities in the company. The Group also provides psychological assistance, training and adaptation for new employees through the First Job, Bring a Friend and other initiatives. In total, more than 1,000 veterans have already joined the company, and 8,000 Metinvest employees continue to serve in the Armed Forces.

PJSC ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih focused on several aspects of veterans’ reintegration: medical rehabilitation, psychological assistance, training and retraining of specialists, creation of inclusive workplaces, and information and administrative support. These wishes were most often voiced during interviews with each demobilized employee, and the program was formed on the basis of these answers. In addition, the company has developed and implemented a step-by-step route map “The Way Back to the Work Family”.

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, more than 3.5 thousand employees of the company have defended Ukraine. As of December 2024, more than 400 employees were demobilized, and more than half of them have already returned to their jobs.

Interpipe currently employs more than 150 veterans, and almost 1.2 thousand employees have joined the ranks of the Armed Forces since the full-scale invasion. The first demobilized veterans returned at the end of 2022, when the company had already started supporting Ukraine’s defenders directly at the front. At that time, the need for assistance with reintegration and return to civilian life was also identified.

Interpipe’s policy in this regard includes a medical component (post-demobilization health checks, treatment and rehabilitation in an oasis of need), psychological and legal support for veterans at the company’s expense. If a new job is needed, it is selected based on the person’s physical condition, skills and experience, or even adapted to their needs. The company also provides an opportunity to learn another profession.

Ferrexpo’s comprehensive veterans’ support program includes a full medical examination, full physical and psychological rehabilitation, social support, preparation of jobs at the enterprises to meet the needs of veterans, training for retraining, and assistance in adaptation for families and colleagues. More than 700 employees of the company serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, seven of whom are women. 154 employees have already returned to civilian life. Thanks to the veterans’ program, 96 of them have started working at the group’s enterprises.

Such cases are almost unheard of for businesses in other countries, but the steel and mining industry’s efforts in this area do not go unnoticed not only at the national but also at the international level. For example, Metinvest’s veterans’ reintegration program was among the top eight finalists for the Reuters award: Sustainability Awards 2024 in the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion category. The nomination for this world-famous award was the first in the company’s history.

This year, Metinvest, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih and Interpipe were included in the country’s top 50 employers according to NV and Odgers Berndtson, published in October, and were recognized in the Support for Veterans and Their Families category.

In addition, in November of this year, 20 leading Ukrainian companies signed the Veteran Friendly Business Principles. Interpipe and Ferrexpo were among the signatories.

Region support

Despite the war, support for the regions of operation and local communities remains one of the constant priorities of Ukrainian iron and steel companies.

In particular, Metinvest continues to fulfill its partnership obligations set out in memorandums of social and economic partnership with local authorities. In 2024, the company joined the financing of social infrastructure improvements in the Gleiavatska, Lozuvatska, Karpovska, and Shirokovska communities.

As part of the memorandum signed by Metinvest with the Kamianske City Council in May this year, the city will receive UAH 50 million from the company in 2024-2025 to implement socially significant projects. The Group will co-finance repairs in key departments of the city’s medical institutions (Hospital No. 9, Emergency Hospital and Primary Health Care Center No. 3). In addition, the latter two will undergo major repairs to their civil defense facilities with Metinvest’s support, and a new modern bomb shelter will be built at Lyceum No. 22.

Helping hospitals since the start of the full-scale invasion has been a priority for the industry.

This year, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih helped to renovate the neurology department of a hospital in Kryvyi Rih district with 20 beds. The repairs were carried out by the company’s subsidiary, Stil Service. The heating, sewerage, water supply, electricity, wards, manipulation rooms, and bathrooms were restored.

As part of its humanitarian aid program, Ferrexpo donated medical equipment for the trauma, neurology and rehabilitation departments worth more than UAH 4.2 million to the city hospital in Horishni Plavni, Poltava region. The equipment will allow the hospital to provide more modern and efficient services to the community.

Educational projects

Even in the midst of a major war, iron and steel companies have not abandoned their own educational programs.

Support and training for young people and their own employees remains relevant, especially in the context of staff shortages due to mobilization and migration.

In April 2024, Metinvest Polytechnic, a Ukrainian non-governmental iron and steel university, graduated the first specialists in modern engineering and technical specialties. The university awarded 143 masters with diplomas that allow them to work at any enterprise in the world. The company considers this graduation to be the first step towards a new engineering education and a new future for the country.

Most of the graduates are employees of Metinvest’s enterprises who plan to continue to develop their profession and grow their careers while remaining the backbone of the country. Earlier, in February, Metinvest Polytechnic announced the start of the 2024 admission campaign. This year, the university is enrolling students in 16 bachelor’s and 18 master’s programs and is also opening a postgraduate program.

In addition, in spring, Metinvest Polytechnic signed a memorandum of cooperation with the National Technical University “Dnipro Polytechnic”. The universities will become partners in educational, research and innovation activities.

ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih continues its dual education project New Factory, launched in 2021. Its second wave is currently underway. The project has been transformed in the military realities, the process has changed, but the quality of student training has been preserved. Free education in technical specialties is designed for two years. In 2023, 185 students started it, and 9 educational institutions became partners of the company.

At the same time, adult students from AMKR, Steele Service, LMZ, and contractors can acquire new knowledge in more than 350 working professions at ArcelorMittal University, which is licensed by the Ministry of Education for this number of vocational specialties.

Interpipe has been consistently developing the technical education ecosystem in the region where it operates. In December 2024, 6 educational locations in Dnipro received Fischertchnik programmable constructors. The latest developments were handed over to the city’s schools and Dnipro Polytechnic, where over the past five years they have opened six modern engineering classrooms, helped to adapt curricula, and trained teachers. As a result, children have the opportunity to consistently acquire the relevant profession of a mechatronics engineer.

Earlier, Interpipe purchased equipment that it uses in its own production and updated the curriculum for training future machine tool operators at Vocational Technical School No. 2 in Dnipro. The company also opened two more modern labor rooms at gymnasiums No. 121 and No. 24.

Ferrexpo believes that the foundation of the future is quality education. In particular, the company supports the creation of modern classrooms in schools in Horishni Plavni. And the Femunity Teens project was recognized as the best social initiative for young people by Delo.ua as part of the Best Employers of Ukraine 2024 rating. It aims to develop young people in local communities in Poltava region through educational programs, trainings, and events that promote leadership, teamwork, and personal growth. Over the 2 years of the project’s implementation, more than 100 teenagers from Horishni Plavni have become its participants.

First job

The companies also support young people who choose to work in the iron and steel industry after graduation.

For example, this year, Sukha Balka mine and Dnipro Metallurgical Plant (DCH STEEL) launched a project for graduates of specialized educational institutions. For young employees of the companies who graduated in 2024 and have a clean employment record, the company will pay UAH 60 thousand in installments.

Zaporizhstal and other Metinvest enterprises in the city have a motivational program called “First Job” that provides for the payment of UAH 50 thousand to young specialists in addition to their salary and bonus during their first year of work.

Ukraine’s iron and steel sector continues to be the country’s reliable steel backbone. The industry not only supports the military and the country’s fight against the aggressor, civilians and volunteers, but also lays the foundation for post-war recovery and further development of the state through humanitarian programs.