Akhmetov vows to help rebuild Mariupol after victory

Ukrainian businessman Rinat Akhmetov has promised to help rebuild the besieged city of Mariupol, in which two of his plants are located -- Azovstal and Illich Iron and Steel Works.

He said this in an interview with Reuters, Ukrinform reports.

"Mariupol is a global tragedy and a global example of heroism. For me, Mariupol has been and will always be a Ukrainian city. […] I believe that our brave soldiers will defend the city, though I understand how difficult and hard it is for them," Akhmetov said.

On Friday, Metinvest, a group that belongs to the Ukrainian businessman and owns the Azovstal and Illich Iron and Steel Works plants, said it would never operate under Russian occupation. The enterprises were damaged by shelling.

Akhmetov stressed that the war-torn Ukraine would be rebuilt "after our victory."

"We will definitely need an unprecedented international reconstruction programme, a Marshall Plan for Ukraine. […] I trust that we all will rebuild a free, European, democratic, and successful Ukraine after our victory in this war," he said.

Photo: Futbol 2