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How a Ukrainian veteran injured fighting for Bakhmut finds peace in pottery
Ivan Shostak, a 38-year-old Ukrainian veteran blinded in a Russian attack while fighting near Bakhmut in 2023, has found a way to quiet recurring nightmares through pottery. He works with clay by touch, shaping cups and bowls late into the night; his experience also highlights the challenges Ukraine faces in supporting people with severe war injuries.
Rehabilitation and access to care remain limited: the article says only 4% of Ukrainian hospitals offer inpatient rehabilitation, and one in four people report reduced access to medical services since the full-scale invasion began. Shostak receives 27,000 hryvnias a month, about 90% of the average wage, but says he could not access qualified vision specialists. By mid-2024, about 100,000 war-related amputations had been recorded, while the UN had verified 55,846 civilians injured as of September 2026.
In short
- Pottery helps blinded veteran Ivan Shostak manage recurring nightmares.
- Ukraine faces major gaps in rehabilitation and accessible care.
- Disability payments often cannot cover costly aids and prosthetics.
Explained simply
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has caused extensive military and civilian injuries. Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine, was the site of intense fighting in 2023, where Ukrainian forces faced Russian attacks.
People who survive severe injuries may need long-term medical care and rehabilitation. Access to these services varies, and some people report difficulty getting specialist treatment; the scale of war-related injuries places further demands on Ukraine’s health services.