The Impact of Russia’s Invasion on Disabled People in Ukraine
Eighteen months since Russia invaded Ukraine, more than 14 million Ukrainians have been displaced both within Ukraine and in other countries- among those who have to stay behind are disabled citizens. As the world focus remains on the unfolding conflict, their narrative is often overlooked but certainly needs to be told.
Even before the war broke out, some organizations were concerned about people with disabilities facing discrimination and difficulties in accessing education and jobs in Ukraine. The war has unfortunately led to further emphasis the difficulties they face. Article 11 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by both Russia and Ukraine, states that during a war civilians should be treated fairly and kept safe, and disabled people are among the most vulnerable groups. Russia’s aggressive actions coupled with pre-existing issues in Ukraine, mean that disabled people’s article 11 rights have been impacted. Hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities that provide necessary care and medication have been targeted by Russian attacks. Many disabled Ukrainians have lost their usual sources of support and help because they had to leave their homes. The 2.7 million people with disabilities officially recorded in Ukraine, of which some 260,000 are people with intellectual disabilities, all face additional challenges to surviving and navigating the impact of the war as a result of their disability.
Access to shelter is probably the biggest challenge. The lack of inclusion in humanitarian efforts regarding accessible accommodation has resulted many disabled Ukrainians not being able to access suitable shelter and temporary housing throughout the country. For example, Vitaljii Pcholkin and his wife Uliana, a wheelchair bound couple were initially unable to flee occupied Bucha. When they finally managed to escape to Lviv, they struggled to find a suitable place to live which is wheelchair friendly. It took them five months to finally find a “more or less suitable” home.
Difficulty to access a proper shelter goes hand in hand with evacuation disruption. The lack of clear rules for evacuating disabled individuals has affected those living in residential institutions. Many disability activists blame the government’s lack of preparedness, and most of the support to refugees with disabilities has been provided by local disability organization and NGOS. Many institutions are in occupied areas or were damaged. Some families have had to endure additional difficulties when trying to escape the war. The lack of appropriate evacuation vehicles meant a man had to carry his two nephews with cerebral palsy all the way from the east to the west of Ukraine because they couldn't use wheelchairs. Ivan Vasylovych’s story is similar. Ivan Vasylovych was trapped in Sloviansk for months because of his leg and hand injury, waiting to for suitable transport to a safe city. Eventually the Red Cross were able to facilitate his transport to Lviv.
As a consequence of Russian bombing of medical facilities, disabled Ukrainians are also not receiving the high quality of care they deserve due to staff shortages and interruption to supplies of medicines. Some NGOs report incidences where doctors have resorted to tying patients to their bed to prevent self-harm, because they cannot provide appropriate treatments. Disability Rights International reported: “You saw one disabled child taking care of another disabled child, you saw self-abuse, biting themselves, hitting themselves, rocking back and forth, clenching their teeth”. According to DRI, the main issue in those medical institutions is a failure of leadership and a failure of policy. Putting money into these institutions only supports a system that keeps disabled Ukrainians segregated. Experts argue the money should rather be used to gradually move children out of institutions into the community, help disabled people live in safer and more personal places.
The difficulty to provide high quality of care is even harder with hospitals or other medical infrastructures being more likely to be attacked by Russia. More than 700 attacks have been reported since the Russian invasion. These attacks include bombings of hospitals, torture of medical personnel, and even shooting at ambulances.
People with disabilities in Ukraine currently struggle to access crucial information because Braille, sign language, subtitles, and simplified language aren't widely used for important messages. This has tangible effects; for instance, those with hearing impairments aren't quickly alerted about incoming air raids, which means they are delayed in accessing shelters. However, some progress has been made since the 8th September 2023 as the Marrakesh Treaty for people with print disabilities is now in effect in Ukraine. This means that libraries in Ukraine can immediately use the treaty's rules to create and share accessible format copies of books, like braille, audio, large print, and digital formats, without needing permission from copyright holders.
Around 82,000 disabled children in Ukraine have been left behind by their family due to the war and are segregated from society in “care home” institutions. In the Vilshany Orphanage, there are more than 200 children who have disabilities, many of whom have living parents or guardians. Families often feel like they have no choice but to institutionalize disabled children as they do not get enough help to take care of the child with a disability, and traditionally, the state has encouraged families to place disabled children in orphanages. Evacuating these children has proven difficult, especially in the occupied territories. Some have been evacuated to neighboring countries or internally, but many remain stuck in unsuitable conditions.
Fortunately, some places, such as the Dzherelo Children’s Rehabilitation Centre in Ukraine, help children with disabilities and offers therapy. The Start Centre in Lviv, helps children with developmental disabilities and their families from places such as Kherson, Donetsk, and Mykolaiv. These families have children with different disabilities, but around 90% of them have autism. Perekatiy, who has a son with autism, says these children need stability and therapy to develop important skills. When therapy stops, their progress can decline quickly. Funding for centres like this often inadequate, threatening their ability to survive.
The war has significantly limited education access for disabled children in Ukraine. Remote learning doesn't cater to all those needing learning support. Organizations like Start Centre provide help but face difficulties accessing sufficient state resources. Facilities for internally displaced people lack the necessary resources for quality education.
Access to reliable and consistent support is critical for disabled children if their conditions are to be managed. The constant disruption and poor conditions mean that these children are at risk of deterioration. This has long-term implications not just for them, but for the state as well. The state must prioritise its disabled citizens to prevent a significant future health crisis, and to meet its obligations as a signatory to the UN Charter.