2.7 million people in Ukraine (6%[1]) were reported having a disability in 2014.[2] This number did not include the (reportedly) 1.5% of people with temporary disabilities.[2] In 2014, 35% of people aged 60–70 had some age-related disability. For people aged over 80 years, this number grew to 50%.[2]
Ukraine is notoriously "disability unfriendly".[2] [3] For example, in the capital Kyiv only 4% of infrastructure is considered to be "disability friendly".[2]
In the 1990s unemployment rates for disabled people rose sharply in Ukraine (and other Eastern European countries) due to economic downfall.[4]
In 2021 Ukraine's national railway company Ukrzaliznytsia launched its first disabled-friendly trains with dedicated wheelchair space.[5]
Ukraine is one of the most successful countries of the Paralympic Games.[6] [3]