Visually impaired people in Ukraine struggle to cope with the Russian invasion as they face new challenges in navigating a war zone and accessing essential services.
Oleksandr Vinkovskyi, the blind director of a business in Kyiv where visually-impaired people worked, expresses the challenges of the war. He struggles to see the scale of the damage caused by many Russian-fired drones on the Ukrainian capital last month, as reported by APNews.
Visually Impaired People in Ukraine
However, Vinkovskyi knows that approximately 80 people, including 54 with a disability, who used to work there are now unemployed.
Since Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, people with visual impairments have faced various difficulties, losing their place of employment being just one of them. During the previous month, when Russia attacked the city primarily at night when people were sleeping, the difficulties increased, making it harder for those who were blind to get around.
People who are blind or visually challenged primarily use sound to navigate their surroundings, and these sounds are very vivid and sensitive. The explosions thus cause more anxiety and suffering.
The National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine's program director, Larysa Baida, stated that many people experience feelings of terror in such circumstances. In response, the group has offered psychological support and rehabilitation to help persons who are blind during the conflict.
The war has also made accessing their usual support networks difficult for visually impaired people. Many organizations that provide services to visually impaired people have been forced to close or relocate, and many volunteers have been unable to continue their work due to the conflict.
Despite the challenges, visually impaired people in Ukraine are finding ways to cope. Some have learned to use new technologies, such as GPS and smartphones, to help them navigate. Others have formed support groups to help each other through this difficult time.
The war in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on the country's visually impaired population. But despite the challenges, these individuals are showing incredible resilience and determination. They are a shining example of the human spirit, and their story is one of hope.
Russia-Ukraine War
The Russo-Ukrainian War has been described as the most serious military conflict in Europe since World War II.
The war has caused Europe's fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War II, with more than 8 million Ukrainians fleeing and a third of the population displaced. The United Nations estimates that more than 5,000 civilians have been killed in the conflict, but the number is likely much higher. It has also significantly impacted the global economy, causing energy prices to rise and disrupting supply chains.
The war in Ukraine is a major geopolitical crisis with far-reaching consequences. It has reignited the debate about the future of European security and has raised questions about the role of NATO and the United States in Europe. Clearly, the war has had a devastating impact on Ukraine and its people and has had a significant impact on the global order.
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