Rinat Akhmetov
Donbass is the steel and coal heart of Ukraine. Lately, my heart has been beating intermittently, my pulse is fluctuating and still palpable. And not least of all, this is the “merit” of the once richest man in Eastern Europe and the coal king, Rinat Leonidovich Akhmetov.
With the height of hostilities in eastern Ukraine, not only cities and villages began to suffer from shells, bullets and daily shelling, but also industrial facilities, the lion’s share of which depended on the local energy resource – coal. In particular, in order to save time and resources, the enterprises of Metinvest Rinat Akhmetov are located near the mines. While his “colleagues” in the oligarchic workshop are closing enterprises, transporting workers, changing the production cycle, for the sake of basic safety, Metivest enterprises have only changed the work schedule, maintain the efficiency of the workshops, and reduced smelting. And if work is not stopped, it means that the product is being sold somewhere, and money is coming in, and this money is somehow absorbed by the manufacturer. And if financial turnover continues in the occupied territories, then it is likely that something will fall to the terrorists. And in the conditions of the terrorist Makhnovshchina, Kyiv’s refusal to finance uncontrolled territories, this “something” could mean direct financing of terrorist organizations and groups.
Among other things, it should be noted that Metinvest not only produces steel and related products, but also mines coal. This includes coking coal, which Ukrainian thermal power plants and thermal power plants need to generate electricity and heat during the winter. The same coal that Ukraine will either buy from Russia (*country sponsor of terrorism) or import from South Africa. At the same time, information appears in the news that coal, already sponsored by the Ukrainian budget, is being exported from seized mines and warehouses to Russia (*country sponsor of terrorism). At the same time, Rinat Leonidovich is not very indignant at the robbery of his warehouses. Is it because this robbery is carried out with the light hand of the owner, as in “Operation Y”? In this light, it is very interesting to observe the fact that Akhmetov’s estates and factories come under shelling much less often than their competitors. Who are you with, Mr. Akhmetov?
Is Akhmetov fighting for his property? Is he trying to somehow protect himself from bandits and thieves? Yes. Negotiating with the local new authorities. What are the costs of Zakharchenko’s voyages to the Yenakievo Iron and Steel Works? Could this have happened without the consent of Rinat Leonidovich? Hardly. On the other hand, how much did Rinat Leonidovich support the Ukrainian army? No way. Although we are being disingenuous here, he still gave moral support to all the fighters on the front line. Sounding the horn every day at 12-00.
While the region’s infrastructure is being destroyed, Akhmetov’s enterprises only change their work schedule, but still continue to generate income. Everyone always needs steel. But who knows where billions of hryvnias from steel exports are spent? Maybe for a different steel? For “defenders of the fatherland”, “liberators”? Territories controlled by terrorists are a black hole of the Ukrainian economy. Money is poured in there for the population, to restore infrastructure and restore at least some order. At the same time, billions of hryvnias are leaving this hole “to the left,” which in fact goes into the budget of terrorist organizations. Does it matter that these businesses still operate? Or is it more important who they work for? The situation in the region, as it has become fashionable to say now, is extremely tense.
On the other hand, the opinion of Metinvest’s coal and steel buyers is interesting. Do they know what “good” causes their dollars will go to? Do they realize the price of each ton purchased from the ATO zone? Do they understand that by buying coal and steel from Metinvest they are personally helping Motorola, Givi and other evil spirits to continue fighting in the Donbass?
If in peacetime any enterprise, of any size, paid kickbacks and bribes just to work quietly, incl. and illegally, with the instigation of the law. Now the same money goes into other hands. Hands of the new government. Is it good? Where does this money go?
One person knows the answers to all and other questions. Average height, red hair and a slight smile. Mr. Akhmetov.
Who are you, Mr. Akhmetov?