DTEK unveils Ukraine’s first job-matching tool for veterans with disabilities in industrial workplaces

DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company and part of Rinat Akhmetov’s SCM, has unveiled a new digital tool designed to help veterans with disabilities transition back into employment in industry.

Called “MOZHU” (“I can”), the system matches individuals to suitable roles by translating complex medical information into practical job recommendations based on skills, experience, location and workplace conditions.

Developed in response to Ukraine’s growing need to support thousands of injured veterans returning to civilian life, the tool offers a scalable solution for employers facing similar challenges in Ukraine.

Deputy Minister for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine Yulia Kirillova said veterans led an extremely active lifestyle, so it is necessary to create as many opportunities as possible for them:

“Employment is one of the key elements of a dignified return of veterans to civilian life. That is why the state is systematically working to develop opportunities for professional adaptation, training, retraining and employment of veterans after the end of service.

At the same time, the success of this work is impossible without the active participation of employers. We are grateful to businesses that implement the Veteran-Friendly Business Principles and create new approaches to employing people who have been injured or disabled as a result of the war. The ‘MOZHU’ tool demonstrates how modern solutions can help assess a person's professional potential, skills and experience, opening up more opportunities for returning to an active professional life.”

Olena Semich, HR Director and Director of DTEK Academy said:

“We developed this tool primarily for our veterans returning from service with disabilities acquired as a result of the war. Its key function is to translate complex medical classifications into language understandable for industrial enterprises, combine this with workplace conditions, while also taking into account a person’s experience and potential.

As a responsible employer and reliable partner of the state, we are sharing this experience to help make the employment process for people with disabilities effective across Ukraine.”

The ‘MOZHU’ platform enables HR teams to input data from a candidate’s medical report alongside their professional profile. The system then automatically identifies suitable vacancies across specific regions or industrial sites. Crucially, the technology converts clinical classifications into language that can be understood by employers, helping companies assess not only limitations, but also capabilities.

Ukraine’s government welcomed the initiative as an example of how business innovation can support national recovery efforts. Daria Marchak, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, added that the tool could form part of a broader systemic response to reducing barriers in the labour market.

DTEK has integrated the tool into its wider ProVeteran programme, which focuses on supporting veterans’ reintegration through inclusive employment and workplace adaptation.

The company is now sharing the platform and its experience with government bodies, employment services and major employers to encourage adoption across Ukraine.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion:

• 5,700+ DTEK employees have joined Ukraine’s defence forces
• 500 veterans have already returned to work at the company
• 200 additional veterans have been recruited from the external labour market
• 104 employees with disabilities are currently employed at DTEK

To support this effort, DTEK has conducted accessibility audits at 24 industrial facilities and launched pilot projects to develop inclusive working environments, including Ukraine’s first adapted mine-surface workspace.