Vadym Novynskyi: 'Metinvest Together!' Supported 1K Employee's Mental Health
Ukrainian philanthropist Vadym Novynskyi, who is the head of his namesake charitable foundation, the Vadym Novynskyi Charitable Foundation, has recently announced the initial results of his Metinvest Together! psychological service, which was launched earlier this year.
In the first six months, the Metinvest Together! project provided support through more than a thousand individual and group support sessions. These are offered to the company's employees and members of their families.
In a press release dated Sept. 11, the foundation reported that the service has been instituted as a response to the atrocities of the Russian war, which began in February 2022. "The project is a success, judging by the 1,113 individual and group support sessions as well as a number of positive reviews from Metinvest employees," reads the release.
"The Ukrainian people live in a world where they are at constant risk and under unbelievable stress. Metinvest Group of Rinat Akhmetov and Vadym Novynskyi takes the mental health of its employees very seriously."
Metinvest has partnered with Wellbeing Company to launch the unique project, and Novynskyi hopes that the company's new psychological service will help his employees cope with the devastating stresses presented by the war in Ukraine.
"Before the war, people sought psychological help when they wanted to improve their awareness, but during the war, psychological help is a matter of survival and prevention of severe mental disorders as well as a chance for a full recovery in the future," said Olena Bondar, CEO of Wellbeing Company.
Novynskyi and his foundation have been aware of the severe distress his fellow Ukrainians have been enduring. Says the website, "Since the very first days of the war, the project psychologists have been helping the company's employees and members of their families by providing qualified psychological support. The service employs professional psychologists and trainers who know how to help with any emotional health issues. Each Ukrainian citizen needs this kind of assistance as we need to support each other."
Vadym Novynskyi Donates Billions in Support
In the first six months of the war, Vadym Novynskyi, through Metinvest Group, spent more than UAH 1.9 billion (approximately $51 million) on providing support and aid to Ukrainian citizens.
According to Metinvest Media, more than UAH 1.5 billion was immediately set aside when news of the invasion broke and allocated to support the Ukrainian army, civilians, and Metinvest employees. This money has been spent on aid in the form of food, shelter, evacuation expenses, medicine, medical treatment, military munitions and supplies, direct funding to families affected by the war, and more.
One of the biggest projects has been providing gear to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, territorial defense units, the National Guard, National Police, and other official forces. This gear includes first-aid kits, protective equipment, medical supplies, ballistic shields, and anti-tank weaponry. The Metinvest Group has been using its steel assets to produce prefabricated shelters, which can be shipped in pieces and quickly put together to provide protection from Russian artillery strikes.
In terms of numbers, Metinvest has reported that some 21,000 helmets, 110,000 bulletproof vests, and 170 remote mine-clearance devices have been donated, some of which were purchased from European partners. Metinvest has also been supplying nonmilitary equipment, including more than 80 outdoor stoves and 120 mini stoves made from sheet metal plates. In total, more than 5,000 items are planned to be produced using a continuous supply of Metinvest steel.
In addition to steel products, Metinvest Group has worked on acquiring a wide range of tactical equipment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This equipment includes 500 drones, 1,600 thermal imaging devices, 500 first-aid kits, 27,000 tourniquets, 500,000 liters of fuel, and 3,000 tons of sand and gravel that can be used to build roadblocks and support damaged infrastructure.
In a press release published in August, Metinvest Group CEO said, "For half of Ukraine's history as an independent state, Metinvest has been there for Ukraine and has done everything in its power to make it thrive. The group has invested money, resources, and, most importantly, unfailing love. Now, as the country is going through its toughest times, we are not standing by idly; we are helping to bring victory closer."
About the Vadym Novynskyi Charitable Foundation
The Vadym Novynskyi Charitable Foundation was founded in 2008 by Ukrainian billionaire and co-owner of Metinvest Group, Vadym Novynskyi.