A Home for a Hero: Rinat Akhmetov Gives His Own House to Severely Wounded Soldier Vitalii Shumei

A Gift from Rinat Akhmetov

According to Главком: Ukrainian billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, founder of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation and president of the FC Shakhtar football club, has given his own house to a severely wounded soldier, Vitalii Shumei. This act of generosity coincided with Vitalii's 38th birthday. The soldier sustained life-altering injuries near Avdiivka in August 2022. This gesture highlights the ongoing private efforts within Ukraine to support veterans of the war with Russia.

Vitalii Shumei suffered a mine-blast injury and a bilateral skull fracture, which left him unable to walk, speak, or eat independently. His treatment involved three complex head surgeries. He underwent rehabilitation in Ukrainian medical facilities, as well as in Germany and Spain, with FC Shakhtar covering a portion of the costs. Following his injury, Vitalii and his father lived in medical institutions because their family home in the Sumy region was under constant shelling.

The Significance of Support

Nataliia Yemchenko, Chair of the Foundation's Supervisory Board, emphasized the importance of this gift. She stated:

'We came not just to hand over the keys, but to do so on his birthday. I hope this gift will change Vitalii's life for the better. We started helping Vitalii when he was in an extremely serious condition and have walked this entire path with him on Rinat Akhmetov's instructions, because this is Mr. Akhmetov's philosophy.'

Darijo Srna, Sporting Director of FC Shakhtar, also expressed his support for Vitalii and his family. He said:

'Mr. Serhii is a great man, a father who can be an example to all Ukrainians in how he fights for his son's life. Rinat Leonidovich is following all of this. He will continue to help Vitalii and his family. I believe this house is a new, significant step toward a happy life for him and his family.'

Vitalii's father, Serhii Fedorovych, expressed his gratitude to Rinat Akhmetov: 'As a father, I am very grateful to Rinat Leonidovich. This help is very, very important to me. Because there is progress. We can already say that our son is back on his feet, he is speaking and can already do some things independently. When we finish rehabilitation, no matter how long it takes, I will confidently bring Vitalii here, to this house. Everything here is done for him-the terrace, the rooms, the shower-everything meets his needs.'

This event underscores the critical need for support for veterans and their families who bear the severe consequences of war. Rinat Akhmetov's gift not only provides Vitalii with comfortable housing but also symbolizes societal solidarity with those who defend the country. The support Vitalii and his family are receiving can serve as a model for other charitable initiatives aimed at helping Ukrainians affected by the war.