Restoration and Accessibility of the Bucha Community

During hostilities and occupation, over three thousand objects were damaged in Bucha’s community. Some were beyond repair and had to be demolished, and new buildings had to be erected in their place.

In addition to restoring houses and infrastructure, the town is working towards becoming barrier-free and accessible for all residents. The war has increased the number of people with disabilities, necessitating providing them with an opportunity to live and work on equal terms with everyone else.

As part of the “Restoration” project, together with inclusion consultant Uliana Pcholkina, we will spotlight the restoration efforts in the Bucha community, showcasing contributors involved and outlining the tasks that still need to be completed.

Accessibility is a live issue

Uliana Pcholkina is a consultant on inclusivity at the Superhumans Rehabilitation Center and an activist for the rights of people with disabilities. She lived in Vorzel for a while and now resides in Bucha. When the all-out invasion began, Uliana and her husband Vitalii chose to stay home in Bucha. They decided not to evacuate and instead helped to organise community life, drawing on their expensive volunteering experience since 2014. In the first days of the invasion, pharmacies and stores in the town ceased operations, forcing residents to cooperate to meet urgent needs; the situation aggravated when electricity and communication were cut off. In early March, Uliana and Vitalii, both of whom have disabilities, left Bucha as part of an evacuation convoy due to increasingly difficult conditions in the town.

“I remember every courtyard, every bush where Russian soldiers stood, how they looked at us, aimed their guns, and how they searched us. Those impressions are not something you easily forget. My mind didn’t want to erase these memories. That’s why I remember everything very well. Now, whenever I pass through Dmytrivka (a village nearby which the evacuation route passed – ed.), I get flashbacks every time.”

The couple settled in Lviv, where they lived for another year. There, they established a humanitarian hub. Upon arrival, they began connecting with volunteers and foreign partners to purchase essential items for people with disabilities. The hub provided incontinence products and assisted people with disabilities, as there were few adapted places for them to stay, and those that existed quickly filled up with newcomers.

“There weren’t many shelters. There were some ad hoc solutions, of course, but it wasn’t common [to find a place] where a person in a wheelchair could live or stay. Many people cried when we helped them leave. They cried because they wanted to stay in Ukraine, but there was nowhere for them to stay… And people had to leave.”

Uliana and Vitalii worked on developing barrier-free environments for displaced persons while assisting people evacuating from the country. In the spring of 2023, the couple returned to Bucha, where they continued to elaborate on creating accessible facilities. Uliana now serves as a consultant on inclusivity at the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, addressing nationwide challenges. She also monitors changes within her own town.

“It is crucial for local authorities to properly allocate budgets and oversee the creation of accessible environments, vital for people with limited mobility. There is still much work ahead in Bucha. For instance, at an intersection, one side of the street has a large curb without a special ramp. The issue arises because part of the roads belong to the town, while another part of the intersection falls under the State Road Agency’s jurisdiction. The town claims it cannot modify the curbs because they are not its property. Therefore, there is a need to coordinate different services and ensure that all projects prioritise accessibility,” Uliana stresses.

According to Uliana, progress is underway, and the authorities increasingly realise the importance of ensuring equal rights and opportunities for everyone. Local officials need to grasp the concept of accessibility, its necessity, and the ways to achieve it. Uliana explains that communication plays a pivotal role in this process.

“We maintain open communication with the local authorities. There are many people here who care and want these changes. For example, even the chief architect initially didn’t understand what Vitalik (Uliana’s husband – ed.) was talking about accessibility and left the meeting dismissing the idea. But once he delved into the issue, he became our best partner-in-crime (ally – ed.).”

Ensuring accessibility is especially critical for the country at this time. With a rising number of people — both military and civilians — having disabilities like amputations, musculoskeletal disorders, and other impairments, it is crucial to create conditions where they can fully live and work. Additionally, disability can affect anyone, even in peacetime. Uliana recalls her own car accident, emphasising that no one can guarantee they won’t acquire a disability at some point in their life.

Many people perceive people with disabilities as incapable of fully participating in society, often overlooking them as potential employees. Uliana mentions a study conducted by her NGO, “Active Rehabilitation Group”, to illustrate her point. According to the results, 72% of respondents feel pity for people with disabilities. Changing this mindset is not easy, but creating comfortable conditions for people with disabilities can foster their better integration into society.

“This issue will only become more relevant due to the war. We cannot afford to lose veterans, both men and women – people with disabilities and various impairments; we cannot afford to lose their economic potential. As Olga Rudneva (the head of Superhumans – ed.) emphasises, we are a country of people with disabilities. The number of such people will only increase because every shelling results in casualties and injuries. Many people are receiving lifelong impairments.”

Uliana emphasises that people with disabilities or other impairments are no different from anyone else. Providing them with opportunities to live and work will enable Ukrainian communities to achieve sustainable economic development.

Uliana notes that in Bucha, some facilities are already barrier-free. For example, the sports academy and the Administrative Service Center have already installed ramps and equipped restrooms, among other improvements. Despite some criticisms concerning these ramps and facilities, the complex is generally accessible to people with disabilities. Recently, a private swimming pool opened, and Uliana visited it herself. She noticed some flaws and suggested possible improvements to the staff. However, the pool can still be accessed by wheelchair users, and Uliana herself visits it.

When designing or renovating buildings, it is crucial to consult with experts and thoughtfully consider the optimal placement of elements. Uliana references a recent example in Bucha, where a new residential complex in Bucha installed numerous ramps and handrails. However, all the ramps are built at steep angles, and some lead to curbs, making them highly inconvenient for users. Given shortages of accessibility experts, communities should monitor the installation of all necessary elements in buildings themselves. Whenever possible, citizens should avoid purchasing property in residential complexes that do not prioritise accessibility, thereby avoiding funding such an approach.

According to Uliana, Bucha is progressing towards greater accessibility. The town council and hospital have improved accessibility, and more bicycle lanes are being established. Located near the capital with excellent transportation connections to Kyiv, Bucha has great potential to evolve into a truly comfortable town to live in. The focus of donors and partners on Ukraine’s reconstruction presents opportunities not only for Bucha but also for other towns across the country.

Vorzel ambulatory

Vorzel, a village in the Bucha united territorial community, was also occupied at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, which resulted in substantial damage to residential buildings and infrastructure. While many facilities have been restored, reconstruction efforts in the town are still ongoing.

The local ambulatory was in poor condition before the attack. Restoration efforts commenced before 2022, but they were halted with the onset of the invasion. Following the de-occupation of Kyiv Polissia, restoration work resumed, and by September 2022, the renovated ambulatory reopened, offering new services to clients.

Oksana Bruyaka, Deputy Medical Director of the Bucha Primary Health Care Center and family doctor, shared insights into the ambulatory renovation and services it now offers to local residents.

“We have expanded services for patients with tuberculosis, and in 2024, we are actively beginning to focus on palliative care.”

The ambulatory also provides psychological support.

“We can conduct counselling sessions even without a referral to a psychologist or psychotherapist. Ninety percent [of patients] can receive services right here, on-site. And in critical situations, when the family doctor is unable to handle the patient, we can refer them to a psychologist or psychiatrist,” says Oksana.

In 2023, the ambulatory introduced the practice of scheduling patient appointments for preventive examinations, not just when they are ill. Individuals in the high-risk group, namely those over 40 years old, are regularly scheduled for preventive check-ups.

In the ambulatory lobby, information stands display available screenings, along with QR codes linking to the institution’s website and social media profiles. These stands also contain links for leaving feedback on Google Maps or filling out a survey to provide comments or suggestions. Additionally, the ambulatory has an electronic portal where patients can choose a doctor and schedule appointments. There is a separate area for children waiting for their parents or their own medical consultation.

Uliana Pcholkina, who visited the ambulatory with us, pointed out certain shortcomings that people with disabilities may encounter here, although overall, the building is quite accessible. It is equipped with ramps at the entrance to the clinic, allowing wheelchair users to enter. However, some challenges may arise in the lobby area; for instance, the registration desk, ticket terminal, and hand sanitizer dispenser are positioned considering the height of a standing person, which may be difficult for someone in a wheelchair to access. Nonetheless, the halls are wide, and the restroom is well-equipped and accessible to everyone. Despite these observations, the ambulatory generally provides a comfortable environment for all patients.

Such minor flaws are easily fixable. During the design phase, the principle of universal design can be adhered to, but the already existing facilities should be adapted to accommodate the needs of all citizens. This includes not only people with disabilities but also children and their parents, pregnant women, people with luggage, and those with temporary health impairments such as leg or arm fractures. Likewise, it is crucial to ensure informational accessibility by installing information desks and providing information duplication.

Uliana emphasises that her comments and advice are not meant for the sake of annoyance or unnecessary criticism but seek to encourage improvement and cooperation. She aims to inspire people to pay attention to these aspects during planning and construction processes.

For this sake, there is a guide on accessibility that explains the principles of universal design, methods to assess spaces for accessibility, and strategies for reconstructing public spaces and areas around government and social institutions. It is crucial to educate people not only on how to create barrier-free spaces, but also on why it is necessary. Society must understand that people with disabilities are just like everyone else and deserve equal opportunities.

“If, for example, an employer thinks that I should stay at home and receive treatment and even [if they] donate to medical centres but believe that I am incapable of working, then they will not make their business inclusive, accessible, and barrier-free. [Although] this person might even build a rehabilitation centre because they sincerely believe we need treatment. That’s why we need to change our perspective.”