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The Saving Lives humanitarian project set up by SCM's biggest businesses, Metinvest Group and DTEK, in coordination with the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, has been operating 24/7 since its inception. To date, the number of donors is growing along with humanitarian support for Ukrainians.

The war kills not only with bullets and shells. With civilians suffering from a lack of food and medicines, the humanitarian crisis hits hard no less. In coordination with the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, Metinvest Group and DTEK established the Saving Lives humanitarian project in the first days of the all-out invasion of the Russian Federation to protect Ukrainians from potential food shortages. The initiative strives to provide a continuous supply of food, essential goods, and medicines to Ukraine and distribute them among the regions that need urgent support.

The project has already delivered 3,045 tonnes of humanitarian aid kits to 56,903 people, including children, the elderly, and women. The distribution of free assistance follows a very simple format: a beneficiary walks in, shows his/her ID, and receives a kit.

SCOPE OF AID

Saving Lives has delivered 2,736 tonnes of food packages and emergency kits to Ukrainian regions, including 1,113 tonnes to Zaporizhia, 962 tonnes to Kryvyi Rih, 549 tonnes to Kamianske, and 401 tonnes to Dnipro.

Incepted as an internal humanitarian initiative of SCM's biggest businesses, Metinvest Group and DTEK, operating in coordination with the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, the project has gained the trust of international community very quickly. Even more partners with a solid reputation have recently joined the initiative. The Do It Together Foundation has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Agritrade Ukraine, the Coordination Centre of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (known as BMEL). The partners plan to bring 200 tonnes of food and essential goods to Ukraine every month so that around 30,000 residents of the war-affected areas could live better and have no fears of hunger.

Assistance from Germany will come to Ukraine regularly and make the humanitarian efforts of Saving Lives stronger. Currently, the project is supported by almost 90 donors and partners from Germany, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain, the United States, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Greece, UAE, and other countries. In total, the project's assistance will reach up to 100,000 people.

AID IN NUMBERS

Overall, the assistance sourced by Saving Lives will reach up to 100,000 people.

Moreover, the initiative expanded the scope of humanitarian support in May, sourcing medicines and medical equipment to Ukraine alongside food packages and essentials. Medical institutions in Zaporizhia and Kamianske have received medicine and consumables worth €238,000 from Saving Lives, and vitamins for adults and children are on the way.

It is important that not only big businesses, but also ordinary people, Metinvest employees, get united around Saving Lives and make donations to the Do It Together Foundation. As of today, the amount of contributions made by the company's employees exceeds €100,000, and the total amount of money and humanitarian goods provided by the donors is €1,321,000. The Foundation operates on the principles of transparency and regularly reports on its performance.

“I thank every employee and every partner who has joined the humanitarian mission for their incredible support for Saving Lives. Your commitment has shown once again that there can't be any arduous tasks for people with open hearts. We appreciate everyone who supports Ukrainians through these difficult times, and we call on more people, businesses, and countries to join the ranks of philanthropists. We believe in the victory of light and kindness,” said Yuriy Ryzhenkov, CEO of Metinvest Group.