Over the past two years, Ukrainians have been showing steadfast resistance against Russia’s full-scale invasion. Since the onset of the conflict in 2014, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation has regularly supported those facing the most dire circumstances. Ukrainian civilians residing in the frontline areas and liberated regions receive essential supplies such as food, household items, medicine, and hygiene products from SCM businesses.
Since the outset of the conflict, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation has contributed over 700,000 medicines to aid Ukrainians. Support for the Ukrainian armed forces is actively provided through the Steel Front military project. The initiative has procured various equipment such as vehicles, drones, charging stations, and other essentials, totaling over 1,200 vehicles, 47,268 first aid kits, more than 5,000 UAVs, 17,037 pieces of special equipment, and beyond.
Restoration of Energy Infrastructure
In the wake of the first seven months of full-scale conflict, Russia has shifted its focus to destroying Ukraine’s energy facilities. Moscow openly acknowledges Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as one of its primary targets. Consequently, DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, which controls a third of the energy market and accounts for 90% of the nation’s coal production, has suffered considerable losses. As reported by The Kyiv Independent, the company’s value has been reduced three times.
On the second day of the full-scale invasion, DTEK lost control of Luhanska TPP, the sole source of electricity for nearly a million residents in the north of Luhansk, now predominantly occupied by Russian forces.
Another thermal power plant owned by DTEK was seized by the Russians in Enerhodar, a town in Zaporizhia Region, which is home to Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant that was also seized by Russia. This has left approximately 2.5 million people in the Russian-occupied territories without access to electricity. Meanwhile, Rinat Akhmetov keeps allocating funds to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and civilians, surpassing the contributions of many other prominent businessmen.
In just one year, DTEK has restored electricity to around 7 million households, while Ukrtelecom is diligently working to ensure that Ukrainians maintain access to communication services. Currently, internet services are available in 87% of Ukrainian settlements covered by the company’s network.
The Ukrainian businessman Rinat Akhmetov believes that a peace agreement with Russia is only conceivable on Ukraine’s terms, which include the withdrawal of Russian troops and the return of seized territories under Ukrainian control. Akhmetov underscores that Ukraine’s struggle is not merely for its own freedom but for the freedom of all of Europe.
This publication was compiled based on information sourced from The Kyiv Independent (https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-top-oligarch-akhmetov-loses-half-his-assets-to-russias-invasion/).
