Petro Khizhnyak, a member of Ukraine’s State Border Guard since 2003, has received a new apartment from the “Heart of Azovstal” project. This initiative provides consistent support to defenders of Mariupol. Khizhnyak sustained serious injuries during the fierce battles for the city and was taken prisoner.
On March 17, 2022, while executing a combat mission, he suffered a blast injury, a closed head injury, and a concussion. Following increased enemy pressure, Khizhnyak and his comrades were forced to reposition within the Illich Steel and Iron Works in Mariupol. On April 2, he was injured again due to an airstrike. For over a week, he remained completely surrounded by enemy forces. During an attempt to break through to Azovstal, Khizhnyak was hit again and captured, spending more than seven months in captivity, as reported by the “Heart of Azovstal”.
The project has now provided the Khizhnyak family with an apartment to replace their home left in the occupied Donetsk region. Ukrainian pop star Pavlo Zibrov attended the housewarming event.
Khizhnyak expressed deep gratitude, stating, “We lost everything. My wife left with just one bag, and I had nothing. We moved to Kharkiv, staying in a stranger’s apartment. Initially, I couldn’t believe the offer from the ‘Heart of Azovstal’ to participate in the ‘At Home’ program. I thought it might take years. I didn’t even tell my wife at first, but everything was arranged so quickly. I cannot express enough thanks to Rinat Akhmetov and the ‘Heart of Azovstal’. I am overwhelmed with emotions.”
