"We are starting a new chapter in our lives": Mariupol defender Yevhen Umanskyi receives an apartment from the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation

Mariupol defender Yevhen Umanskyi has received the keys to his own apartment through the Home programme, implemented by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation in partnership with the Azovstal Heart NGO. His new home marks an important step in returning to civilian life after defending Mariupol, enduring nearly two years of russian captivity and suffering profound personal loss.

Yevhen is a career serviceman who devoted 25 years to military service. He was in Berdiansk when the full-scale invasion began and was later deployed to reinforce the defence of Mariupol. Together with his comrades, he defended one of the entrances to the city, survived massive shelling, suffered a concussion and took part in two attempts to break out of the encirclement, during which the servicemen evacuated women and children from the city. After their ammunition ran out, the defender was taken captive, where he spent 21 months.

When Yevhen returned home, he learned that his wife had died while waiting for him to return from captivity. Despite this, after completing rehabilitation, he returned to military service to continue fighting for his comrades. He has now been discharged from military service. Today, Yevhen is beginning a new chapter of his life in a home of his own.

"I never even dreamed something like this could happen. My soul wants to sing. I am deeply grateful to the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation and to Rinat Leonidovych. We are starting a new chapter and moving forward with our lives," says Yevhen Umanskyi.

Providing systematic support to the defenders of Mariupol is one of the Foundation's key areas of work, carried out in partnership with the Azovstal Heart NGO.

"When we hand over apartments to our defenders, the most important thing is seeing them regain confidence in the future. Yevhen said something very important: 'I haven't been forgotten.' That is exactly why we do this — so that our defenders know they are not left alone after everything they have been through," said Kseniia Sukhova, Chief Executive Officer of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation.

According to Nataliia Yemchenko, Chair of the Supervisory Board of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, the Home programme continues to expand as more defenders of Mariupol are released from captivity.

"We have already provided 334 apartments and are moving towards the target of 400 that we announced earlier. At the same time, we are seeing prisoner exchanges becoming more frequent, and almost every exchange includes defenders of Mariupol returning home. This brings us great joy, but also great responsibility — to do everything possible to ensure that each of them receives support, including a home of their own," said Nataliia Yemchenko.

The Home programme provides apartments for defenders of Mariupol with Group I and Group II disabilities. Having a home of their own is not only a solution to their housing needs but also an important part of the journey of post-traumatic growth after war and captivity.