Partnerships

During the war in Ukraine, caring for veterans has become an integral part of any socially responsible business. The full-scale invasion has changed the lives of thousands of Ukrainians, among them many employees of Metinvest Group who took up arms to defend the country. Many of them have since returned to civilian life, but as different people – bearing wounds, losses, psychological trauma, and a deep sense that their former selves no longer exist.

For Metinvest, supporting its veteran employees has become more than just a matter of corporate responsibility. It has grown into a comprehensive reintegration program that combines medical treatment, psychological assistance, professional adaptation, and the search for new meaning in life after the front line.

From this understanding came the idea to create the “Veterans’ Camp” – a space for recovery not within hospital walls but in an environment of nature, community, trust, and mutual support.

The program is a natural continuation of the experience of the Heart of Azovstal NGO, which has been supporting the defenders of Mariupol for more than two years. The organization has developed its own psychosocial rehabilitation model based on the principles of post-traumatic growth – not merely overcoming trauma, but transforming it into a resource for a new life.

For Metinvest, which employs hundreds of veterans, this became an opportunity to build not a one-time initiative, but a systemic program for helping those who defended the country to return to life.

The Veterans’ Camp is a ten-day rehabilitation and reintegration program held in picturesque Mukachevo, in the Zakarpattia region. It combines medical and psychological approaches, complemented by nature-based activities, body practices, team dynamics, and the emotional warmth of community.

Each session lasts 10 days and brings together 12 veterans – employees of Metinvest enterprises who have returned from service. The program includes personal physiological diagnostics and medical procedures, psychological support and body therapy, outdoor teambuilding, and hippotherapy (horseback riding to improve physical and mental health), excursions to scenic Zakarpattia locations, and biosuggestive therapy to relieve stress and improve sleep.

Each day of the camp follows a structured routine – morning physical practices, group trainings, therapeutic sessions, and evening circles of trust. This structure ensures participants are never left alone with their emotions but are guided through a journey from tension to calm, from isolation to openness.

Teams were formed from employees of the same enterprise, which ensured a high level of trust and psychological safety. Within the groups, mutual support, openness, and a sense of brotherhood developed quickly.

“The Veterans’ Camp is not just a rest in Zakarpattia – it’s a comprehensive approach to restoring the heroes who returned from the front. Time spent together among comrades helps them not only regain strength but also find inner peace and release emotional tension. This program, implemented in partnership with the Heart of Azovstal NGO, has become another key part of Metinvest’s veterans’ reintegration ecosystem. We continue to work systematically to help our heroes adapt to civilian life and secure a dignified future,” said Tetiana Petruk, Director of Sustainable Development and Personnel Relations at Metinvest Group.

“There’s a misconception that veterans’ recovery ends with physical rehabilitation. Yet psychological restoration is equally crucial. And for full reintegration, the social aspect must also be addressed. Our program unites all three – physical, psychological, and social rehabilitation – to achieve the best outcomes. We not only help veterans regain their health and process trauma but also build a community that becomes a reliable source of support,” said Kseniia Sukhova, Director of the Heart of Azovstal NGO. 

In 2025, two groups of Metinvest veterans have already completed the Veterans’ Camp program. The company has invested over UAH 1.6 million into the initiative.

Key results:

• Recovery and integration: noticeable progress in participants’ physical and psycho-emotional state; the program helped develop adaptive mechanisms for life in civilian society.

• Increased loyalty to Metinvest: the company’s image as a socially responsible employer that genuinely cares for its people was reinforced through tangible actions.

• Creation of veteran ambassadors: through coaching sessions and open discussions, several participants were identified and motivated to share their positive experiences with other veterans.

• Community building: by combining therapy and teambuilding, the foundation was laid for a social network of mutual support among veteran employees of the company.