Humanitarian Projects

Ferrexpo has announced the creation of a Humanitarian Fund (“the Fund”) through which the Group can provide direct support for local communities surrounding the Group’s operations and across Ukraine.

As of 21 April 2022, the Board has approved US$12.5 million for this fund, and projects are being coordinated by Ferrexpo’s management team in Ukraine, who are working closely with local community leaders and representatives of the regional and national government. The Group is continuing to monitor developments and will respond as appropriate with additional funding.

The Fund has already deployed resources toward the local sourcing of food with a long shelf life, restocking of equipment and basic materials such as blankets for shelters in residential areas and emergency medical supplies for local hospitals and medical facilities. Funds are being deployed on a daily basis to support the quickly changing situation in the country.

Ferrexpo’s priority remains the safety of its workforce and local communities, and the Group is working to tackle the humanitarian crisis that is emerging across Ukraine.

Ferrexpo has seen many refugees pass through its communities in central Ukraine, fleeing west, away from Russian aggression. Within the first two weeks of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Group has provided shelter to over 1,300 men, women, and children. The Group has opened up its’ company hotel, recreation centres, and children’s camp and is providing free accommodation, food, medical treatment, and psychological support to those refugees in need.

Some stay for one night and continue to other destinations, while others, who have no place to go, are found accommodation in Ferrexpo’s hometown of Horishni Plavni and offered suitable employment with our company wherever possible.

From the outset of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Ferrexpo began a programme to offer free meals to its employees. At the request of Ferrexpo's employees, however, this service has now been entirely redirected towards providing three free meals a day to local communities.

Ferrexpo's operations have been present in the region for over 50 years and the Group has very close ties with the local communities around its operations, as well as communities across Ukraine. We are proud to be in a position to help Ukraine and our surrounding communities at this difficult time.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, social networks are currently disrupted, family members are being displaced and schools are temporarily closed in Ukraine. Ferrexpo’s workforce is continuing to come to work as part of the Government’s request to keep the economy going. With the closure of schools and nurseries, Ferrexpo's employees are often unable to find childcare solutions at the present time.

Childcare is one of the vital new programmes that we have initiated to support employees and local communities while Ukraine is under attack. The Group will do whatever we can to support our communities during this conflict. By establishing an on-site childcare facility, employees are able to bring their children to work, knowing that they are located close by and able to continue learning.

Despite extraordinary circumstances, the children are continuing to learn, play and socialise while their parents help support the country’s economy.

Civilians across Ukraine are under constant bombardment by Russia's military, and as such the Group has supplied helmets and body armour to workers such as firefighters, medics, bus drivers and truck drivers delivering humanitarian aid into the conflict zone. In total, the Group has supplied 500 helmets and 500 units of body armour to workers across the Poltava Region, with this project amounting to approximately US$500,000 in humanitarian support.

In addition to direct support provided by the Group to refugees through the provision of housing, food and other support, Ferrexpo is also helping to facilitate local communities in their efforts to host refugees. This support is provided through the provision of food and materials such as bedding and blankets for civilian shelters. Items provided in this particular project include the provision of 50 sets of a bed, mattress and bedding, two diesel generators, and basic toiletries such as toothpaste, soap and disinfectant. The Group has also provided vehicles and trailers to help refugees with the transit of their possessions.

The humanitarian effort in Ukraine is far reaching and requires communities through the country to be supplied with food, medical supplies and basic materials to ensure the health and wellbeing of communities. With individuals in rural communities requiring assistance, the Group has helped provide eight second-hand 4x4 vehicles to help deliver these goods to remote locations, which are currently difficult to access.

The influx of refugees into the area where Ferrexpo's operations are located has put a significant strain on the local authorities' ability to serve the needs of individuals and families. With modern technology, such as laptops, monitors, printers, mobile phones and modems, the Group is helping to support local authorities' efforts to coordinate the registration and housing of refugees in the local area. Through providing such equipment, the Group is aiming to help increase the number of refugees that the local authorities are able to assist effectively.

Through the Group's commercial department, Ferrexpo's management team has extensive experience in sourcing goods and materials for delivery to the area in which the Group operates. Following the onset of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Group has been made aware of a shortfall in the supply of certain medicines that are required to help control long term health conditions. Whilst this project is not significant in scale, with the provision of 500 packs of medicine costing US$1,000 to US$2,000 in total, these are essential supplies that would otherwise result in severe consequences if not received by local healthcare facilities.

The Group is implementing a wide range of projects to assist people in both the local communities near the Group's operations, and throughout Ukraine. Projects are identified and prioritised via close dialogue with local community leaders and local authorities. Examples of such projects include:

• Horishni-Plavni: The provision of diesel generators and large water bottles for the supply of drinking water, for use in emergency shelters
• Kyiv: the sourcing and provision of basic food items such as butter and milk powder
• Horishni Plavni and communities surrounding the Group's mines: provision of 40 tonnes of fuel for local communities
• Kremenchuk: provision of food items with a long shelf life (tinned goods)