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Let’s do it together with us - Public Organization Port
We help veterans who lost their vision / hearing as a result of hostilities to adapt to a full-fledged civilian life.
Support us and become a partner of the saved lives project!
ABOUT US
We are Ukrainian Public Organization PORT, some of the directions of which are assistance, retraining, job searching for blind and partially sighted veterans, as well as veterans who lost their hearing or vision during the war with russia or after military service. Whether they have a service-related disability or not, we know that by reaching out to our blind veterans, we can help them to return to a fulfilling and independent life. Many of our fellow blind veterans didn't even know what kind of help they were supposed to receive from the state, and through our efforts we were able to provide them with the medical and prosthetic devices they deserve.
We are also actively working on legislative framework that will help our fellow blind veterans to correct all mistakes and inaccuracies.
Join us and help our veterans reintegrate into full civilian life!
STORIES OF OUR VETERANS
DENYS ABDULIN
Denys is from Bila Tserkva and he was a good boxer before the full-scale war.
And now his two little sons have to get used to the fact that dad's eyes are no longer there.
Denys was wounded in Severodonetsk (Luhansk region): a fragment of a mine entered his ear and exited through his eye. His wife found out only on the third day.
He claims that he felt a hot flash and pressure: the moment when his eyes popped out. Both eyes could not be saved.
Today, he dreams of a guide dog and really wants to work: with our help, he is already finishing his massage therapy course, and we are already looking for a job for him right away.
Denis: «A man should be a Man, especially when you have two sons growing up, and you have to set an example for them. Always. Under any circumstances».
BOHDAN SHYN
Originally from Dnipropetrovsk region.
Until February 24, 2022, Bohdan worked as a developer in a large corporation: he has 20 years of experience in the IT field and 10 years as a developer. He could never even imagine that one day he would be a soldier.
On March 23, Bohdan told his wife that he was going on a business trip. And after a few days, she received a message that he was in a hot spot and would be out of touch.
On April 17, he was wounded in a battle near Sloviansk (Donetsk region): gunshot and shrapnel injuries to the eyes and the left side of his face.
Both eyes could not be saved.
Now he is getting a higher education in the specialty «Tiflopedagogics and inclusive psychology" and plans to work.
Bohdan: «My family supports me, I have no right to give up and lose heart, I have to live».
VLADYSLAV IESHCHENKO
Vladyslav comes from the East of Ukraine. Therefore, before the full-scale invasion, he knew from 2014 what war was.
He was wounded on August 9, 2022 near the city of Bakhmut (Donetsk region) while performing a combat task: demining the territory. A mine with a self-destruct function was detonated and because of this, 84 ammunitions were immediately detonated. Vlad was at the epicentre of the explosion, at arm's length.
Complete loss of vision and hearing, more than 30 shrapnel wounds, burnt mucosa, lung damage. These are all injuries of Vladyslav.
Now Vlad takes a very active position in society together with his Charitable Foundation. Together we implement many projects and help other veterans with eye injuries.
Vladyslav: «The whole world is looking at us now not only on the battlefield, but also at those who were injured while fulfilling their duty to the Motherland. The world is watching as we return to civilian life. The harder we go through it, the bigger example we become to those who whine at home about small things. You need to be happy about every little thing that surrounds you, and be able to create conditions to hear the sincere laugh of your loved ones, relatives and friends. That's really supportive».
«If I had at least one eye, I would definitely go back to my boys. Since I don't have them, my mission is to give more knowledge to our young generation, who will carry our history to the next generation».
RUSLAN KOZACHOK
Before the full-scale war, Ruslan worked as a tattoo artist in Kyiv and never served, never had anything to do with weapons.
He was wounded in March 2023 near Bakhmut (Donetsk region).
All that Ruslan remembers from that day is a strong explosion and the frightened eyes of his comrade, as he relayed on the radio that Ruslan was badly injured and something about little chance of surviving with such injuries.
But Ruslan turned out to be a real Ukrainian Kozak, so when he regained consciousness in the hospital and felt his hair being whipped, he persuaded the doctors to leave him a forelock (like all Ukrainian kozaks used to have).
Unfortunately, doctors could not save both of his eyes.
Currently, Ruslan plans to study to become a psychologist and not to stop, because his beloved wife and 8-month-old daughter are by his side.
Ruslan: «Life does not end there. I want to benefit not only the family, but also our boys who are still defending the Motherland. I want to participate in this war, but not to be a ballast (like on the battlefield now without eyes), but on the front where I will be a useful specialist».
IVAN SOROKA
Ivan is from Kyiv, worked in the security service, so in the first days of the full-scale war he went to the military commissariat and in the first days of March was already defending our country.
He was injured in the East of Ukraine. As a result of the explosion, his right eye was badly damaged, and there was almost no retina left in his left eye to save at least something, unfortunately, and his face was very badly burned.
Now, Ivan is slowly learning to work with a computer, because he plans to open his online store with military goods. With the help of his wife, he actively runs the Instagram social network, where he tries himself as a taster of exotic products and trains his sense of humor.
Recently married, Ivan and his wife are waiting for a baby and still hope for the development of medicine and technology to try something new to regain his vision (or at least small part of it).
Ivan: «No one will take care of you except yourself. You need to understand this as soon as possible and accept it, start working on yourself and don't give up».
