Metinvest’s underground hospital for the Armed Forces of Ukraine recognized as one of the best sustainable development projects in the world
Metinvest received the international award of the UN Global Compact Partnership for Sustainability Award 2025 in the category “Rebuilding Ukraine” for the implementation of the country’s first underground steel hospital directly near the front line.
The Partnership for Sustainability Award is considered one of the most prestigious international awards in the field of corporate sustainability and ESG. It annually recognizes partnership initiatives between business, the state and society that contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, overcoming social and economic challenges, protecting the environment and strengthening peace.
In 2025, 150 applications from 22 countries around the world were submitted to the competition. 93 projects reached the final, which were evaluated by an independent international jury with the participation of experts from Harvard University, the London School of Economics, the World Economic Forum, the Basel Institute of Management and other reputable institutions.
The underground medical hospital was created by Metinvest in coordination with the Vostok Medical Forces. The facility is located at a depth of six meters, equipped with modern engineering communications, electronic warfare systems, backup power and security equipment.
Inside are a laboratory, operating rooms, ventilators, oxygen concentrators, defibrillators and other critically important equipment. According to NATO standards, the hospital meets the level of field medical facilities of the second echelon (Role 2).
“This hospital has already saved about four thousand lives of servicemen performing combat missions 8-10 kilometers from the contact line. Recently, one of these units suffered a direct hit – three air bombs. Thanks to the hospital, people were saved. Thank God, the entire unit survived,” said Roman Kuziv, commander of the Medical Forces “East” group.
The stabilization point provides a full cycle of emergency care — from resuscitation to preparing patients for evacuation or discharge. Two operating rooms allow for simultaneous emergency surgical interventions without transporting the wounded to distant hospitals. The hospital can accept up to 100 wounded daily.
“Underground hospitals are our know-how, created on the basis of steel bunkers — “kryivkas”. When it comes to saving the lives of defenders, every minute is important. That is why the placement of stabilization points near the front line and their concealment from the enemy allow medics to work safely and provide timely assistance. This Ukrainian engineering invention has already proven its effectiveness and has attracted the interest of one of the world’s leading armies,” said Metinvest’s Chief Operating Officer Oleksandr Myronenko.
The UN Global Compact in Ukraine is part of the world’s largest responsible business network, which unites over 25 thousand participants in 167 countries. The Ukrainian network includes about 150 companies. Metinvest Group joined the initiative in 2010.
