The event brought together representatives of government, law enforcement, healthcare, business, academia and the public sector. Participants discussed the development of a Ukrainian model for veteran rehabilitation, grounded in best international practices, contemporary Ukrainian experience and the real needs of defenders. The event was organised by Olympian Denys Silantiev, head of the Free Waves rehabilitation project.
Veterans in the spotlight
According to Davydenko, Metinvest has more than 10 years’ experience of supporting veterans, as the Group’s employees began joining the Anti-Terrorist Operation at the outset of the war in 2014.
Since 2022, Metinvest has adopted a systematic approach to supporting former service members. The Group has developed a veteran reintegration ecosystem built on the principles of responsibility, consistency and internal fairness.
“The reintegration of veterans into civilian life and the workplace is everyone’s responsibility, not just that of directors or managers. We strive to support veterans throughout their entire journey – from the moment of mobilisation to their return to the team – providing assistance at every stage. We also train teams and managers on how best to interact with former service members,” he said.
Metinvest also supports the development of veteran communities at its enterprises and across the regions where it operates.
One of the Group’s key initiatives is the Free Waves project, which Metinvest has supported since its inception. Today, veterans in Kamianske, Kryvyi Rih and Zaporizhzhia are undergoing rehabilitation through swimming, with 432 participants currently involved in the programme.
“Free Waves is not just a project to support veterans: it is an example of genuine collaboration. It demonstrates how businesses and non-governmental organisations can unite to help defenders recover both physically and psychologically,” said Davydenko.
Another example of collaboration between business and civil society organisations is the “Speak Up, Veteran” project. It consists of a series of open meetings and training sessions for Metinvest employees and veterans from the cities where the Group operates. Lawyers, psychologists and representatives of social services are invited to these meetings. They provide a safe space for veterans to share their challenges and needs, and to receive the support that they require.
From initiatives to a system
Davydenko emphasised that such small-scale projects lay the groundwork for systemic change at the national level.
“These initiatives should evolve into national programmes, with business setting an example, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs building on it and civil society organisations contributing their expertise. Together, they create a comprehensive system of support for veterans,” he said.
According to Davydenko, only such cooperation can make support truly comprehensive, ensuring that no one is left behind, and that the rehabilitation and employment of veterans become a shared responsibility.
“We must mature as a society. It is not the veterans who are returning to us; it is we who must welcome them with dignity,” he added.
Davydenko also noted that while the US experience in working with veterans can be valuable, the context is different: there has been no war on American soil for 150 years, and veterans there return to a genuinely peaceful life.
“Ukraine’s experience is unique. Our veterans continue to work in wartime conditions. Yesterday, they defended the country on the front line; today, they are sustaining the economic home front; tomorrow, they will rebuild the state. Almost one in two Ukrainians will live through the war, and it is these people who will become the force that will make the country stronger,” he stressed.