The underground hospital is based on steel “hideout” bunkers developed by Metinvest, which have been modernised and structurally modified to meet the needs of military medics. It is equipped to the standards of a second-echelon field hospital (Role/Echelon 2) in accordance with NATO standards. Metinvest’s investment in its construction and equipment exceeded UAH20 million.
The steel hospital provides intensive care, treatment and support for patients until their discharge or evacuation to another inpatient medical facility. All of this takes place near the front line in a protected environment for doctors and patients.
Oleksandr Myronenko, chief operating officer of Metinvest Group, said: “A medical hospital located many metres underground is the most ambitious and challenging project we have had to implement since the beginning of the full-scale invasion as part of Rinat Akhmetov's Steel Front initiative. Every minute counts in saving the lives of Ukrainian defenders. We have made every effort not to waste this precious time and to ensure that our doctors have everything they need to provide timely and effective aid.”
The steel underground facility is on a par with civilian hospitals in terms of medical equipment. Metinvest has equipped it with oxygen concentrators, a ventilator, cardiac monitors, defibrillators, surgical equipment and lighting, sterilisers, patient warming systems, medical furniture and more, worth over UAH7 million.
Roman Kuzev, acting commander of the medical forces group “East”, said: “ This underground hospital is the best stabilisation centre available. It will allow us to provide medical care to over 100 patients a day, saving hundreds of lives of our heroes. I hope the number of such facilities will grow.”
The underground hospital is based on six enlarged steel bunkers, each 7.6 metres in length and 2.5 metres in diameter. It is equipped with the necessary utilities, including ventilation, water supply, drainage and power supply systems. During the installation of the underground hospital, additional security measures were taken to protect against exposure of positions and potential enemy attacks on the facility. The hospital is also equipped with high-power electronic warfare systems and alternative power sources.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Metinvest has spent UAH7.5 billion to help Ukraine and its citizens, including UAH4 billion for the army’s needs as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative. The Group makes a wide range of products that are supplied to the army. In addition to “hideout” bunkers, these include mine trawls, protective screens to counter FPV drones, “lancet catchers”, plates for ammunition and armour to protect frontline vehicles.