Rinat Akhmetov's project "Heart of Azovstal" continues to help the heroes of Mariupol

Rinat Akhmetov's “Heart of Azovstal” project has become one of the most ambitious and consistent initiatives to support Ukrainian military personnel. Over two years, the program has reached over 7,000 people – the defenders themselves or their relatives – and provided more than 22,000 types of assistance. Physical and psychological rehabilitation, modern prosthetics, housing, assistance with education and employment – the assistance provided by the project is not one-off, but systematic.

At the end of 2024, Rinat Akhmetov https://www.goodreturns.in/rinat-akhmetov-net-worth-and-biography-blnr620.html decided to extend the project for another year, allocating an additional 600 million hryvnia. Thus, the total amount of assistance from Azovstal Heart under this program alone reached 1.6 billion hryvnia.

"Two years ago, I founded the 'Heart of Azovstal' project to help the defenders of Mariupol and their families. This is our gratitude for the heroic deed they accomplished defending Ukrainian Mariupol. I know that over these two years, the project has become a pillar of support for our warriors and their loved ones. But thousands of Mariupol's defenders still remain in captivity, so I have decided to continue the work of 'Heart of Azovstal.' We will wait for everyone who defended Mariupol and do everything possible for their dignified life.” Akhmetov emphasized.

What will be done in 2025

The program continues to expand. In 2025, the following is planned:

1. 50 apartments for veterans with I and II disability groups as part of the “Homes” program. A total of 250 people will receive keys to their homes in 3 years.

2. Implementation of the “peer-to-peer” post-traumatic growth method with the support of the American organization Boulder Crest. The first certified Ukrainian mentors will undergo training in the US.

3. A joint entrepreneurship program for veterans from Dog Tag and Mariupol State University. Participants will not only gain knowledge but also receive support to start their own businesses.

4. A project with America's Warrior Partnership and the Kyiv School of Economics to develop veteran-centeredness in Ukrainian communities.

5. International publication of the book as part of the initiative “M86: Chronicle of the Defense of Mariupol” – a chronicle of events that should strengthen advocacy for the release of Ukrainian prisoners.

6. Formation of a sustainable community of Mariupol defenders, to whom all the accumulated experience of the project will be transferred.

Over two years of operation, “Heart of Azovstal” has established strong ties with the Ombudsman's Office, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, the Ministry of Social Policy, the Ministry of Education, and local government bodies. This has made it possible to build a coordinated system of assistance focused on the real needs of the military.

The project also works with leading medical centers in Ukraine, rehabilitation facilities, psychologists, and international organizations. Such interaction makes it possible to adapt the best foreign practices and implement effective methods of supporting veterans on Ukrainian soil.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Rinat Akhmetov has donated 11.3 billion UAH to Ukraine. This is one of the largest private contributions to support the country and its citizens during this difficult period.