The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation and “Heart of Azovstal” Presented an Apartment to Mariupol Defender Yurii Klymenko

Mariupol defender Yurii Klymenko and his family received their own apartment under the “At Home” program, implemented by the NGO “Heart of Azovstal” in partnership with the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation.

The full-scale war caught the Klymenko family in Mariupol. Yurii Klymenko, who had been serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine for several years, immediately stood up to defend the city. During the withdrawal of Ukrainian defenders from Azovstal, a russian aircraft dropped a phosphorus bomb on the bunker of his unit. As a result of the explosion, the serviceman sustained severe injuries and burns.

The wounded defender was taken to a hospital in temporarily occupied territories:  first to Novoazovsk, and later to Donetsk. He did not receive proper medical care. On June 29, 2022, Yurii Klymenko was released from russian captivity during an exchange as a severely wounded prisoner.

After returning to Ukraine, the defender fulfilled the promise he had made back at Azovstal — he was married in church to his wife Viktoriia. Later, the couple welcomed their second daughter, Solomiia.

The keys to the apartment were handed over to the family by Ksenia Sukhova, Director of the NGO “Heart of Azovstal,” on behalf of the project’s founder, Rinat Akhmetov. She thanked Yurii Klymenko for the heroic defense of Mariupol and emphasized the importance of supporting defenders and their families who lost their homes because of the war. Yurii Klymenko expressed his gratitude for the support and assistance:

“From the bottom of my heart, I thank everyone. First of all — Rinat Leonidovych, as well as the entire team for your support and for not leaving us,” the Mariupol defender noted.

The Klymenko family was also congratulated on their housewarming by Nataliia Yemchenko, Chair of the Supervisory Board of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation and the NGO “Heart of Azovstal.” She emphasized the importance of the program supporting defenders.

“The program has been running for a little more than two years, and during this time it has brought together an incredible number of different stories. I truly hope that Yurii, Viktoriia, Sofia, and Solomiia will be happy in their new home,” said Nataliia Yemchenko.

The “At Home” program is part of the “Heart of Azovstal” project, which, in partnership with the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, is aimed at ensuring a dignified future for the defenders of Mariupol and their families.