KYIV (Reuters – Ukraine’s wealthiest man plans to sue Russia for $17 billion to $20 Billion in losses due to Russia’s bombardment of the steel plants he has in Mariupol.

After the plant was made the final bastion of defense in southern Port City, the Azovstal steelworks sustained severe damage to Russian shelling and bombing. Unseen damage was done to the Illich Steel and Iron Works also by Akhmetov.

In an interview Rinat Akhmetov of Metinvest Ukraine, a Ukrainian steelmaker, stated that “we will certainly sue Russia” and demanded proper compensation.

Metinvest was asked how much it had lost due to the destruction to Illich (and Azovstal) and he replied: “The replacement costs… because of Russian aggression are from $17-20 billion. A lawsuit against Russia will determine the final amount.

Billionaire Akhmetov had already seen his business empire shattered before the war by eight years of fighting in Ukraine’s east after pro-Russian separatists took over swaths of territory there.

Metinvest, which was unable to deliver supply contracts due to Russia’s February 24 invasion has made it clear that it will not be delivering its supplies. Akhmetov’s industrial and financial SCM Group continues to service its debt obligations. However, DTEK, the private power producer, said that it has restructured its debt.

Akhmetov stated that he was still in Ukraine after the Russian war began. He added: “We believe and support our country.