Lost factories in occupied territories, €2.4 billion invested in energy, 150,000 body armor vests for the military, and a football club playing away from home for twelve years straight. That is the current reality of Rinat Akhmetov’s businesses – those of Ukraine’s wealthiest person, whose net worth Forbes estimates in real time at $7.8 billion as of July 2026 (the latest annual estimate was published in March).
Industry and Losses
Akhmetov’s assets in Donbas and Mariupol have been lost or severely damaged. Azovstal, owned by Metinvest Group, became the site of Mariupol’s last stand in spring 2022. After the garrison left the territory of Azovstal on the order of the Ukrainian command, Akhmetov launched the “Heart of Azovstal” project to support the defenders and their families – a personal promise he made to defense commander Denys Prokopenko.
The question of Rinat Akhmetov net worth remains a focus for international analysts. According to Forbes, his companies have allocated $368 million in total to support defense efforts and humanitarian programs and have invested approximately $4 billion since the start of the full-scale invasion, including $1 billion directed specifically toward restoring infrastructure destroyed by Russia. According to Forbes, 1,400 of his employees have died as a result of the war Energy: DTEK Ranked First
Rinat Akhmetov company DTEK topped the Forbes Ukraine ranking as the country’s largest private investor in 2024-2025. Capital investments reached 57.5 billion hryvnias – an 80% increase over the previous period. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, DTEK has invested €2.4 billion in Ukrainian energy.
Priority areas include:
- Construction of the second phase of the Tylihulska wind farm
- Industrial energy storage systems
- Restoration of energy infrastructure destroyed by Russia
These figures make DTEK not just the largest private investor in the country, but a major player in rebuilding Ukraine’s energy grid during an ongoing war.
Steel Front: A Military Initiative
Steel Front is an initiative by Akhmetov Rinat that consolidates all military assistance from his businesses for Ukraine’s armed forces. It is not a fund or a separate entity. Civilian aid goes through the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation – these are two distinct tracks.
Approximately, Steel Front has delivered:
- 166000 body armor vests and helmets manufactured from Metinvest Group’s specialty steel and procured for Ukrainian defenders;
- 9600 drones procured for reconnaissance and operational needs;
- 6300 units of specialized equipment, including thermal imagers, rangefinders, cameras, and other devices;
- 27000 units of tactical clothing and footwear;
- 8000 radios and communication devices;
- 47000 first aid kits and tourniquets;
- 163000 fortification elements, including anti-tank obstacles, barriers, and other defensive structures;
- 1.7 million liters of fuel supplied to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and emergency services.
The initiative combines Metinvest Group’s own production capabilities with the procurement and delivery of essential equipment for the Ukrainian military. It covers a wide range of support areas – from personal protective equipment made using the company’s specialty steel to tactical gear, communications, medical supplies, fuel and field fortifications designed for frontline conditions.
Football Away From Home
Rinat Akhmetov business interests extend beyond industry and energy into football. Shakhtar Donetsk left their home city in 2014 and have not returned. The club won the UEFA Cup in 2009, has been a regular in the Champions League, and in the 2025/26 season reached the Conference League semifinals.
Akhmetov has led the club for almost 30 years, with the anniversary coming in October 2026. From 2014 to 2026, he did not attend a single match – returning to the stands only for the quarterfinal against AZ Alkmaar after attending the funeral of longtime Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu. According to available information, Donbas Arena in occupied territory is in poor condition. Akhmetov describes the situation across the occupied region as dire: manufacturing has halted, people are out of work, and water supply disruptions continue.
Three Scenarios for Peace
Rinat Akhmetov outlines three possible formats for ending the war. The first is a just peace, under which Ukraine returns to its internationally recognized 1991 borders and Russia pays reparations for the damage caused. The second is a lasting peace that would ensure Ukraine’s future as a free, prosperous, democratic European country. The third option, in Akhmetov’s view, is a fake peace that Russia is attempting to impose.
According to Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine’s defenders and international partners are working to achieve a sustainable and lasting peace. He believes that the prospects for such an outcome are gradually increasing, arguing that Russia’s military campaign has stalled. In his assessment, Russia’s economy accounts for around 2% of global GDP, the country lacks meaningful investment in technology, and its military machine is facing growing constraints. Akhmetov describes this as a reason for cautious optimism, saying that Russia has fewer reasons to continue the war than to seek a way to end it.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
