The SCM Group, which includes Metinvest, has been recognised as the country’s leading corporate donor by Top 100 magazine. The total amount of support is growing regularly, most of which was allocated to defence needs as part of the Steel Front initiative, as well as to humanitarian aid. These projects are implemented on an ongoing basis, which allows not only to respond quickly to urgent requests, but also to develop long-term programmes.
The SCM Group and the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation provide broad support through various initiatives. The Steel Front focuses specifically on defence assistance, while other programmes cover humanitarian and social needs. The format of assistance includes the supply of equipment, materials, machinery, support for medical institutions and targeted assistance to specific categories of citizens. The approach is based on ensuring that resources are used as efficiently as possible and that projects bring real benefits.
Innovations for the front line
Metinvest has become one of the leaders in the development and production of mobile steel shelters, which are manufactured at the company’s enterprises and installed underground. These structures provide protection from shelling and, in some cases, are converted into command posts for military units.
Last autumn, a unique project was launched — Ukraine’s first underground hospital. It is equipped with modern medical equipment and can treat more than 100 patients per day. The project cost more than UAH 20 million and has become an example of how industrial experience and resources can be used to save lives.
The Steel Front also provides defenders with body armour, transport, drones, communications equipment and medical equipment. More than 600 steel dugouts have already been delivered, armour for Abrams and Leopard tanks has been produced, as well as protective elements for Patriot systems. Such supplies directly affect the safety and effectiveness of the military on the front line.
Support for energy infrastructure
DTEK, part of Rinat Akhmetov‘s business structure, is actively restoring the country’s energy system. Thanks to the ‘Battle for Light’ campaign featuring Alexander Usyk, international funding has been secured. The European Commission and the US government have allocated €107 million to protect and restore Ukraine’s energy sector. These funds will enable the rapid repair of damaged facilities, strengthen the protection of substations and provide electricity to millions of Ukrainians.
Work on restoring the energy sector is continuing under difficult conditions of constant attacks, but DTEK specialists are continuing to quickly repair damage and implement solutions that increase the network’s resilience to possible new threats.
Caring for the defenders of Mariupol
The Heart of Azovstal program received additional funding this year in the amount of up to UAH 600 million, thus bringing the total amount to UAH 1.6 billion. As part of the ‘Homes’ project, dozens of disabled military personnel have already been provided with housing, and in 2025, it is planned to transfer another 50 apartments. In total, 250 apartments will be provided within three years.
Special attention is paid to the families of defenders, who receive both financial and organisational support. This helps people recover from difficult trials and return to peaceful life.
Humanitarian projects
The Akhmetov Foundation is actively working in frontline and liberated areas, providing people with food, medicine and hygiene products. Since 2014, more than 700,000 items of medicine and 13 million food parcels have been distributed. Particular emphasis is placed on supporting vulnerable groups of the population – children, the elderly and people with disabilities.
One of the most significant humanitarian projects is the psychological self-help guide ‘Time to Take Care of Yourself.’ It was developed by the Foundation’s team in collaboration with experienced psychologists to help children affected by war restore their emotional balance. The guide contains exercises for recognising and expressing emotions, forming positive thinking and developing confidence. Singer Svetlana Tarabarova emphasised that such practices help children relive happy moments, cementing them in their memory.
Support for sports and social causes
FC Shakhtar, owned by Rinat Akhmetov, continues to fund social projects. In 2024, the club allocated 32.5 million hryvnia to help the military and civilians. Another 22 million hryvnia, received from the match against Tottenham, was donated to charity.
These funds were used to rehabilitate wounded soldiers, help displaced persons and support young Ukrainian athletes. Thus, the football club has become not only a sports brand, but also part of a large-scale humanitarian effort.
In total, Rinat Akhmetov donated 11.3 billion hryvnia to help Ukraine. These funds were allocated to defence, infrastructure restoration, social support, and humanitarian programmes. The scale of this work demonstrates a systematic approach that combines quick solutions with long-term projects covering millions of people across the country.
