The war invaded Ukraine, breaking millions of lives. It came unexpectedly, leaving scars not only on the ground but also in the hearts of people. Some lost loved ones, some lost their homes, and many were forced to flee their country to escape the horrors of destruction. This is a tragedy that has affected everyone. But there are those who stood at the forefront of this struggle – veterans, people who defended the borders of Ukraine at the cost of their health and lives.
Their bodies are maimed by war, and their souls are filled with the pain of loss. They are returning from the battlefield to homes that no longer seem so dear to them. These heroes, who fought for a peaceful future, often become invisible to a society that forgets their sacrifices. Veterans with disabilities are those who bear the heavy wounds of war not only physically but also mentally, as they feel like strangers among their own.
They have to fight again – not on the battlefield, but for the right to be part of society. Their achievements and exploits become history, but the reality for many of them is isolation, indifference and lack of support. They are no longer the same as others. And this ‘otherness’ scares society. It is difficult for them to find a job, difficult to get proper medical care, and even more difficult to feel needed again in the country for which they gave their health. Why is society not ready for their return, and what trials do they have to go through to find their place in the world they once fought for?
‘Not like everyone else’
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has led to a rapid increase in the number of people with disabilities. The origin of this disability is of a completely different nature than in the pre-war period. First of all, it is caused by hostilities and enemy shelling of peaceful Ukrainian towns and villages. According to the Ministry of Social Policy, in the first two years of the war alone, the number of people with disabilities increased by 300,000, which is 10%. And this figure is growing rapidly every day.
War breaks not only bodies, but also the way of life. Those who return from the front as disabled face many challenges that are simply invisible to most people. For them, simple things like getting around the city or finding a job become daily challenges. However, physical barriers are only the tip of the iceberg. The worst are the social barriers. The sympathy that veterans meet at first quickly gives way to indifference, misunderstanding or even fear. Some people avoid veterans with disabilities because they do not know how to interact with them. Many people have an internal conflict: on the one hand, they are heroes who defended the country, but on the other hand, they look and act ‘differently from everyone else’. This duality turns them into invisible people, strangers in their own country.
The main problem is that society often sees only the physical wounds of veterans, ignoring the emotional and psychological ones. The loss of a limb or a spinal injury is only part of the pain they experience. Many veterans return with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which manifests itself in anxiety, depression, and uncontrollable outbursts of emotion. This further exacerbates their isolation, as their psychological problems are often incomprehensible and even frightening to others.
The problem of socialisation for veterans with disabilities is not only that they are physically different, but also that they have experienced things that most people will never experience. Their experience of war makes them ‘different’. They have seen death, pain and destruction, while for many civilians these realities remain distant and abstract. This creates an emotional barrier that separates veterans from society.
Many veterans feel isolated upon returning home. They are no longer perceived as part of society. Habitual friendships break down because it is difficult for friends and relatives to understand the changes that have taken place with veterans. Former colleagues are not always ready to accept a veteran who now uses a wheelchair or has a prosthetic limb.
The social isolation of veterans with disabilities is often exacerbated by the lack of support from the state and the community. The infrastructure for people with disabilities in Ukraine is still underdeveloped, and veterans face many physical obstacles: inaccessible public places, lack of adapted transport, problems with medical care and rehabilitation.
Problems of veterans
Society often feels uncertain about interacting with veterans with disabilities because it does not know how to respond appropriately. The fear of saying something inappropriate or doing something wrong makes many avoid interaction. This only increases the isolation and alienation of veterans.
In Ukraine, the Barrier-Free Environment Council is responsible for developing an environment without restrictions. The National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Space in Ukraine was adopted and is being implemented by various ministries. However, according to the ‘Needs of Veterans’ survey conducted in 2023 by the Ukrainian Veterans Fund, 45.4% of respondents said that the state rather fails to fulfil its obligations to veterans, and 8.3% of respondents believe that it does not fulfil them at all. In addition, 21.4 per cent of respondents complained that Ukrainian society rather disrespects its veterans. As some veterans noted in a private conversation, they often hear the phrase ‘we didn’t send you there’.
For the majority of respondents, government programmes to create inclusive spaces and infrastructure for people with disabilities are not effective at all and are rather ineffective – 17.6% and 39.1% respectively. At the same time, one third of respondents could not give a clear answer to this question. This is because our veterans are not aware of the existence of such programmes. This raises the suspicion that all these programmes exist only on paper, as they say, for reporting purposes.
Veterans also complain about the high level of bureaucracy and the difficulty of obtaining prosthetics in Ukraine, as well as the need to undergo annual medical examinations to confirm disability, which is nothing short of absurd and disrespectful on the part of the state.
‘About 70-80% of people with disabilities are able to work fully,’ said Olena Stepanenko, an expert from the Confederation of Employers of Ukraine.
Instead, according to the Confederation of Employers of Ukraine, 448,200 people (17.4% of the total number of people with disabilities) were employed as of the beginning of 2024. For comparison, 53% of able-bodied people with disabilities work in the UK, 44% in France, and 23% in the US. The accessibility of the education system and labour market for people with disabilities, the emergence of inclusive buildings, accessible sidewalks, roads and transport is a stage of evolution that Ukrainian society has not yet reached. In 2023, the State Employment Service was able to employ 7,700 workers with disabilities, which is 0.5% of the 1.67 million able-bodied people with disabilities who are still unemployed because employers simply dismiss them and are unwilling to create inclusive environments for them. Meanwhile, the country is on course to integrate into Europe.
As you can see, the barriers for our veterans in Ukraine are still insurmountable. What should a person in a wheelchair do to enter a building with numerous stairs? How to navigate a city with many physical obstacles if you are completely blind? How do you get information if you are deaf? These questions remain unanswered. While officials make loud statements about creating an inclusive space in the country. And how many cases have there been when drivers have refused to allow a person with a prosthesis to use public transport? These are not isolated incidents that still occur in our society, which, on the contrary, having faced the pain and numerous losses that the war brought, should have become more human and understood how difficult it is for people with disabilities in our world.
Attitudes towards veterans in society through the prism of history
Attitudes towards veterans with disabilities in different post-war years varied significantly depending on the historical period, cultural characteristics of society and socio-economic conditions. From deep respect to indifference and even alienation, the approach to these people has always been a mirror of how society assessed its own moral and social obligations to those who sacrificed their health in war. Here are some key milestones in this process.
After the First World War, the world faced a large-scale problem of disability among veterans for the first time.
Warfare technologies left millions of soldiers without limbs, with severe injuries or invisible psychological trauma, which was then called ‘shell shock’.
In Europe, particularly in the UK and France, society tried to honour veterans, but the infrastructure and social support for them was insufficient. Veterans received medals and honour at public events, but there was little real help. In the UK, for example, charitable organisations such as the Royal British Legion were established, but most veterans had to fight for the right to medical treatment and social security. In Germany, after the First World War, veterans with disabilities found themselves in an even more difficult situation. The economic crisis, hyperinflation and political instability left many of them living in poverty and neglect, which later became one of the reasons for the rise of radical movements such as Nazism.
After the Second World War, the world was once again forced to look for ways to solve the problem of socialising millions of veterans, many of whom became disabled. However, the situation has changed somewhat since the previous conflict. Many countries have realised the importance of systematic support for veterans.
After the Second World War, the United States became an example of a country that invested heavily in the rehabilitation and socialisation of veterans. In 1944, the GI Bill was passed, which provided veterans with the right to free education, financial assistance for housing, and rehabilitation programmes. Veterans with disabilities were respected and given preference in employment, and this became part of public policy.
However, after the Vietnam War, the attitude towards veterans in the United States changed radically. Society was divided over the war, and this affected the perception of veterans. Unlike in previous conflicts, many veterans returned home not as heroes but as objects of criticism. Veterans with disabilities were often met with indifference or even contempt due to the unpopularity of the war. This led to serious social isolation for many of them.
However, the US government continued to support veterans through rehabilitation and treatment programmes. Under the influence of the growing disability rights movement in the 1970s, veterans’ programmes were improved and more attention was paid to psychological trauma, including PTSD.
The UK created a national healthcare system (NHS) that provided veterans with medical care. Veterans had the opportunity to receive prosthetics, rehabilitation and medical care. In the post-war years, the number of charitable organisations that helped veterans adapt to civilian life grew.
In the Soviet Union, the attitude towards World War II veterans was twofold. On the one hand, they were honoured as heroes, especially at state events. On the other hand, veterans who became disabled often found themselves in a difficult situation. They received symbolic assistance, but in the context of the general economic crisis and lack of resources, this support was minimal. The state used them for propaganda purposes, but in reality they were often left to fend for themselves, especially in rural areas.
However, in many countries, particularly in less developed ones, the treatment of veterans with disabilities remains problematic. They often face shortcomings in healthcare and social support systems.
As we can see, attitudes towards veterans with disabilities depend on the political, economic and social context of any given time.
While in some countries, post-war support was at a high level, other societies left veterans without the necessary assistance, leading to their marginalisation. Veterans have always been an important part of history, and the way they are treated reflects the moral character of a nation in a given period.
Comprehensive support and rehabilitation of veterans in foreign countries
Today, in many foreign countries, the treatment of veterans with disabilities is an example of a comprehensive and systematic approach to their integration into society. Countries that are actively involved in wars and conflicts are particularly aware of the importance of socialising veterans and develop powerful programmes to support them.
For example, in the United States, veterans’ support policy is a priority at the state level. Veterans, especially those with service-connected disabilities, enjoy a number of benefits and programmes designed to make their lives easier and facilitate their return to society. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the main government agency that cares for veterans. The VA provides medical care, mental health rehabilitation, and job training and employment programmes. VA medical centres are located across the country and specialise in both physical rehabilitation and treatment of PTSD, which is one of the biggest challenges facing veterans. Vocational rehabilitation is a separate programme that helps veterans with disabilities learn new professions or adapt their skills to new conditions. This includes not only training, but also assistance in finding a job, cooperation with employers and financial compensation for the duration of training. Housing programmes are another important initiative. Veterans with disabilities can receive financial assistance for the purchase or adaptation of housing, particularly for those with mobility impairments.
In the UK, veterans with disabilities also receive significant support from both the government and NGOs. Veterans UK is a government agency that provides veterans with financial benefits, compensation for injuries, medical services, and employment assistance. The British veterans’ support system focuses on psychological health, providing access to specialised clinics and rehabilitation programmes. In terms of reintegration programmes, British veterans have access to training, retraining and psychological support. An important aspect of British policy is cooperation with the private sector to provide veterans with jobs in the labour market. Many companies cooperate with the government to create special conditions for the employment of former military personnel, including those with disabilities. There are also influential charities in the UK, such as Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion, which provide veterans with additional services, including financial support, social initiatives and access to specialised care.
Canada is implementing a policy of comprehensive rehabilitation of veterans, including those who sustained a disability during service. Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) is the main government agency responsible for providing benefits and assistance to veterans. Veterans with disabilities are entitled to financial compensation, long-term medical support, including physical and psychological rehabilitation. Like other foreign countries, Canada has retraining programmes for veterans. An important aspect is working with employers to create conditions that allow veterans with disabilities to integrate into the workplace. The government also funds special programmes for employers who hire veterans. The Canadian system also includes special mentoring programmes where veterans help each other to adapt to civilian life, including veterans with disabilities. This includes both moral support and practical assistance in everyday matters.
In Germany, veterans with disabilities have access to a wide range of social benefits and state assistance. The German rehabilitation policy includes financial support, special medical services and assistance with housing adaptations. Veterans can also receive transport benefits and financial assistance for rehabilitation and retraining. Germany actively cooperates with the private sector of the labour market to create jobs for veterans with disabilities. Large enterprises are required by law to provide jobs for people with disabilities, including veterans.
As we can see, in many developed countries, the socialisation of veterans with disabilities is an integral part of public policy. The main approaches include:
- medical and psychological rehabilitation – restoration of physical health and work with post-traumatic disorders.
- financial support – payments and compensation to veterans, as well as assistance in adapting housing and vehicles.
- Vocational training programmes – retraining and employment of veterans.
- social integration – support for NGOs and government initiatives aimed at reducing the social isolation of veterans.
The policies of many countries are aimed at ensuring that veterans, regardless of the injuries they sustained in the war, can become full members of society again, have access to all possible resources and do not feel abandoned after returning from war.
It is important to remember that veterans are not just people with injuries, but heroes who sacrificed themselves for the security of the country. They have the right to live a full life in society. Support from the community, the state and individuals is key to their successful socialisation. This can be both psychological assistance and the creation of a more accessible environment for people with disabilities. We, as a society, should ask ourselves: are we really ready for the return of those who have gone through war? Socialisation of veterans is not only the responsibility of the state, but also of each of us. We need to learn not only to see their physical injuries, but also to understand the emotional and psychological wounds left behind by the frontline. We can start with simple things – not being afraid to talk to veterans, taking an interest in their problems, and providing help when it is needed. It may seem small, but for a person who feels ‘different’ every day, such support can be crucial.
Veterans should not be strangers in their own country. They have already won one war. Now our task is to help them win another battle – for the right to be a full-fledged part of the society they defended at the cost of their own health. They come back from the war, where they left part of their health, and find themselves in a reality where they leave part of their soul. The body that survived the front faces a new enemy – indifference and misunderstanding. Veterans with disabilities become strangers in their own country, which they defended, because society is not ready to accept them as they have become. This is not their failure, it is ours. If we do not learn to see them not just as traumatised people, but as heroes who deserve support and a decent life, then we will all lose in this new war. Not only their future, but also our face as a society depends on how we treat our veterans.
