Rinat Akhmetov's Metinvest Group has been honored with the Resilience Mark 2026 award, a prestigious Ukrainian recognition presented to companies for business resilience practices during wartime. According to RBC-Ukraine, citing a statement from Metinvest itself, the award was granted specifically for its veteran policy and systematic support for employees returning from military service to civilian and professional life. The accolade confirms that the company's approaches yield proven results and can serve as a benchmark for other enterprises.
From accumulated experience to a systematic ecosystem
Metinvest's systematic ecosystem for veteran reintegration began taking shape in 2023, drawing on experience accumulated since 2014. To determine program priorities, Metinvest conducted an internal survey among veteran employees who had already returned to work, while simultaneously analyzing the results of national studies involving military personnel, demobilized soldiers, and their families. This analytical approach allowed the program to be built not from the top down, but based on the real demands of the target audience.
Health as a priority: from health insurance to "Free Waves"
One of the primary requests from veterans identified during the survey was the restoration of physical and mental health. In response, Metinvest expanded its health insurance package and launched veteran camps combining spa treatment, physical rehabilitation, and psychological support. A separate initiative is the "Free Waves" program—rehabilitation through swimming using the methodology of Olympian Denys Sylantyev. Notably, the program has welcomed not only Metinvest veterans but also defenders from Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, and Kamianske, turning a corporate project into a citywide initiative.
Psychological support and adaptation to civilian life
Beyond physical rehabilitation, the company develops psychological support in two formats: offline meetings with specialists and peer-to-peer communication where veterans share experiences among fellow servicemen. Another block of the program is dedicated to professional and social adaptation: Metinvest conducts training for labor collectives to prepare colleagues for the return of veterans, while helping defenders restore professional skills and adapt to civilian life. According to Svitlana Parova, head of veteran reintegration projects, the company continues to improve the program based on feedback from veterans themselves and supports veteran communities.
Scale and recognition: one-third of big business veterans
Metinvest has repeatedly been named Ukraine's best employer, and statistics confirm this: the company accounts for about one-third of veterans who have returned to work at large enterprises. In addition, the company's university, Metinvest Polytechnic, offers veterans preferential admission to promising engineering specialties—without entrance exams, based solely on an interview. "None of us will ever be the same as before the war. Veterans change after service too. Our task is to understand each other and take a step toward one another," emphasizes Svitlana Parova, noting that the Resilience Mark 2026 award confirms the correctness of the chosen path.
