In the office of Oleksandr Vinkovskyi, the director of a Kyiv business that employed visually impaired individuals, sunlight seeps through broken windows, casting a gentle glow on the dusty furniture and scattered glass fragments on the floor. Despite his own blindness, Vinkovskyi cannot witness the full extent of the destruction caused by debris from a Russian-launched drone that struck the Ukrainian capital the previous month. However, he is painfully aware that the aftermath has left 80 individuals unemployed, including 54 people with disabilities who were engaged in the production of circuit breakers, sockets, and hangers.
The office bears the scars of destruction, with shattered windows, broken doors, and ruined equipment, while a conspicuous hole on the third-floor wall serves as a grim reminder of the recent attack. Faced with such perilous conditions, Vinkovskyi has made the difficult decision to suspend operations, recognizing the inherent danger it poses to his employees.
“For a visually impaired individual, going to work is not solely about earning a living; it’s about engaging, connecting, and being an active participant in society,” Vinkovskyi lamented. “Quantifying this profound loss is something I struggle to comprehend.”
Since Russia initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the loss of employment is just one among numerous adversities faced by individuals with visual impairments throughout the country. Over the past month, as Russia intensified its attacks, primarily targeting the capital during the night when people were asleep, the difficulties for the visually impaired escalated exponentially, exacerbating their struggle to navigate their surroundings.
“For a visually impaired person, determining the location of an explosion is impossible. Every blast feels as if it’s occurring within their own home,” Vinkovskyi expressed with concern. “They are unable to grasp the magnitude of the devastation, which adds an additional layer of stress to their already challenging circumstances.”
The auditory senses play a crucial role for visually impaired individuals, serving as their primary means of navigating and understanding their environment. Consequently, the explosions during the conflict evoke intense fear and distress, as these individuals rely heavily on the vivid and sensitive soundscape around them.
Recognizing the impact of such traumatic experiences, Larysa Baida, the program director of the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine, emphasized that many individuals with visual impairments find themselves in states of panic during these situations. In response to these challenges, the organization has been actively providing psychological assistance and rehabilitation services to support visually impaired individuals affected by the ongoing war. Their aim is to provide much-needed support and help individuals navigate the psychological toll imposed by the conflict.
Volodymyr Holubenko, 62, who is blind and serves as the administrator of the business that employed visually impaired individuals, expressed his ongoing confusion and difficulty in processing the events of the attack.
Recalling the day of the attack, Holubenko recounted, “I heard everything. The vibrations from the explosions shook the doors of our home.” His proximity to the facility magnified the impact of the attack, heightening his sense of vulnerability and the harrowing experience of those who lived and worked in the vicinity.
Having dedicated 47 years of his life to the company, Holubenko acknowledged that the month of May presented significant challenges. Nevertheless, he expressed a sense of relative security compared to the previous year, when the conflict was in its nascent stages. Holubenko remains closely attuned to the news regarding the promises made by Ukraine’s Western allies to provide anti-aircraft defense systems, eagerly anticipating their arrival.
With hopes set on the delivery of these systems, Holubenko believes that their presence would enhance the protection of Ukraine and instill a greater sense of safety for himself and others in the region. The anticipation of increased defenses serves as a source of optimism amid the ongoing challenges of the conflict.
Olesia Perepechenko, the executive director of the non-governmental organization Modern Sight and herself visually impaired, shared her unique perspective on the impact of the conflict. Perepechenko revealed that she is attuned to the sounds of missiles flying and explosions even before her loved ones or anyone else around her becomes aware of them.
“I hear these sounds slightly earlier, and the accompanying anxiety sets in slightly earlier as well. That’s why my agitation is so intense,” Perepechenko explained. Residing in the Kyiv province, she described the nightly barrages by Russia in May as particularly demanding and mentally taxing.
As someone who relies heavily on auditory cues to navigate and perceive the world, Perepechenko’s heightened sensitivity to the sounds of war intensifies her emotional response to the ongoing conflict, adding to the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals in the region.
The constant presence of Shahed drones flying overhead and the relentless noise they produce exacerbate Olesia Perepechenko’s distress, often driving her to a state of hysteria. She questions why these drones hover above their house, further intensifying her anxiety and fear. The recurrence of multiple drones flying in succession adds to the sense of unease, as the continuous and monotonous hum becomes an ever-present backdrop.
The psychological impact of this situation is deeply unsettling for Perepechenko. She finds it tremendously frightening and struggles to cope with the overwhelming emotions in the moment. Seeking solace and support, she turns to her mother, seeking comfort through their embrace, or seeks refuge in her husband, relying on his presence for reassurance and stability during these challenging times.
In the aftermath of one of the numerous attacks that occurred in May, Olesia Perepechenko found herself overwhelmed with emotions, leading to tears. Seeking solace and a sense of comfort, she impulsively reached for ice cream from the freezer as a means to cope with the intense stress and anxiety that had gripped her.
“In that moment, I yearned for something soothing, something pleasurable,” Perepechenko shared. “For some reason, it seemed to me that ice cream would provide that relief, although later on, I turned to valerian,” she added, referring to a sedative often used for relaxation and calming purposes.
Perepechenko’s actions reflect her attempts to find solace and moments of respite amidst the distressing circumstances. While initially seeking comfort in ice cream, she later turned to more conventional means of managing her anxiety.
Ariane Laplante-Lévesque, the technical specialist in Eye and Vision and Ear and Hearing Care at the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Europe, highlights the vulnerability and disproportionate impact that individuals with vision impairment or blindness face during times of war. The challenges they encounter extend to navigating streets and unfamiliar physical environments, becoming increasingly difficult for them.
Olesia Perepechenko vividly remembers the extensive missile strikes conducted by Russia during the winter, specifically targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. As a result of the damage to power stations, frequent power outages occurred, leading to precarious situations. Perepechenko herself found herself trapped in an elevator during one such power outage, highlighting the additional dangers and obstacles faced by individuals with visual impairments during times of war.
The incident underscores the urgent need for support and accommodations to ensure the safety and well-being of visually impaired individuals amidst the disruptions caused by the conflict.
Recalling her harrowing experience trapped in the elevator, Olesia Perepechenko vividly describes feeling a sense of impending suffocation, fearing for her life in that confined space. In order to address the lasting impact of such traumatic events brought on by the ongoing war, she has sought therapy to cope with the constant fears she faces. Despite the challenges, she remains determined to continue living in a country that is persistently ravaged by the conflict.
Perepechenko also vividly remembers the difficulties she encountered while navigating the streets of Kyiv, where she works, as well as the nearby village where she resides. Following the withdrawal of Russian troops from these regions last year, the aftermath presented its own set of challenges. She found it nearly impossible to walk safely, relying on a cane for mobility, as the sidewalks were strewn with anti-tank traps and remnants of burnt debris. This hazardous and intimidating environment made her daily commute a dangerous endeavor, heightening her vulnerability and sense of unease.
These accounts shed light on the extraordinary resilience and determination of individuals like Perepechenko, who confront the adversities posed by the war while striving to maintain their lives and livelihoods in an environment marred by constant turmoil and danger.
