The Azovstal – A Symbol of Perseverance campaign from Metinvest Group owner Rinat Akhmetov and United24 has come to an end after selling a total of 100,000 steel bracelets made from the last batch of pre-war Azovstal steel. The campaign was a resounding success in raising money to support Ukraine.
The innovative initiative was planned to sell 30,000 bracelets made from the remaining steel manufactured at Azovstal prior to the onset of the war with the Russian Federation. At that time, the Azovstal plant was a last line of defense for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Mariupol. That initial batch of bracelets sold out in just three days, generating 40,338,907 hryvnia (approximately $1.9 million).
As a result of the demand, the organization produced a second batch, ultimately creating another 70,000 bracelets that sold out within just a month, raising 94 million hryvnia in total.
The Steel Front Military Initiative
The production of these beautiful bracelets was a part of the Azovstal – A Symbol for Perseverance campaign, an offshoot of the Steel Front military initiative by Rinat Akhmetov. Along with his company the Metinvest Group, Akhmetov has supported Ukraine with 1.4 billion hryvnia in aid to defense forces. The organization has supplied more than 150,000 body armor vests, thousands of helmets, hundreds of thermal imagers, mobile dugouts, drones, military equipment of other types, and much more over the previous months of the battle.
The campaign launched by selling the bracelets at the cost of $40, with all of the funds raised designated to support drone development for the forces. The bracelets are notable and collectible because of the symbolism they provide to the country, having been made from the last pre-war batch of steel produced at the Azovstal plant.
The damage to the plant was extensive, as noted by Rinat Akhmetov, who shared, “The pre-war capitalization of our two plants — Azovstal and Ilyich Iron and Steel Works — was at least $10 billion. We are preparing legal actions to demand compensation from Russia for all losses inflicted on our companies.” He continues to share just how proud he is of Azovstal.
The Azovstal plant has long been a valuable asset for the country, but as the last holdout in the region of Mariupol, it was even more important as a testament to the organization and the courage of Ukrainian warriors. The plant’s name has become synonymous with the perseverance and the country of the people who defended it and who proved to the world that they were stronger than steel.
Compassion and Passion for the Country
Rinat Akhmetov is noted for his continued support of the country’s efforts to persevere over the Russian Federation. “I made my choice a long time ago … I became the largest private investor in our country. In 2014, I bitterly condemned separatism and declared that Donbas could only be happy in a united Ukraine. In 2022, as war broke out, I called [Russian President Vladimir] Putin a war criminal. Today, Ukraine is united as never before because we have the will to win. As president of the country, Volodymyr Zelensky is showing true dignity in fulfilling his constitutional duty to defend Ukraine. Every Ukrainian, including myself, is doing everything in his or her power to help Ukraine achieve victory.”
The war effort is far from over, and Rinat Akhmetov has lost significant assets as a direct result. Still, he’s both passionate and dedicated to what is to come. When asked what will happen, he stated, ”I believe that the Russian military will be punished for all the crimes committed in Ukraine and Mariupol. Mariupol is the deepest tragedy and catastrophe that cannot be forgiven.”
