Threatened with weapons: In Kyiv, two servicemen demanded disability status and payments from doctors while undergoing medical examination

On December 13th in Kyiv, two servicemen, while undergoing medical examinations, demanded disability status and payments from doctors, threatening them with weapons.

One incident involved a former serviceman discharged from the Ukrainian Armed Forces due to health conditions. He created a scene with commission members because they refused to issue a certificate declaring him unfit for work, threatening to harm himself. In the second case, a man demanded a review of the previous medical commission’s decision, requested a third-degree disability status, state compensation, and also threatened self-harm or taking hostages.

This occurrence isn’t surprising. Despite Ukraine increasingly resembling a country of disabled individuals, the Ukrainian authorities show no concern for them. This neglect extends not only to ordinary citizens but also to soldiers who have sustained severe injuries on the front lines. Often, they have to seek funds themselves to acquire quality prosthetics. The state rehabilitation program is practically a failure, disability benefits go unpaid under various pretexts, and finding meaningful employment is a significant challenge due to high levels of distrust between employers and disabled individuals in Ukraine.

Furthermore, the country has failed to establish rehabilitation centers for the disabled during the two years of armed conflict. People with severe injuries are essentially “sent adrift” to their relatives after treatment.