Fear and the Sign of the Cross: A Veteran Who Lost Both Legs Shares How Society Accepts People with Prosthetics.

Attitude Towards a Disabled Veteran Without Legs

War veteran Serhiy Kopyshchyk shared that people around him have different attitudes towards him, considering his disability. Mostly, emotional reactions are observed among older people. They cross themselves and pray when they see the veteran, which annoys Kopyshchyk.

“Often, older generation people, especially grandmothers, cross themselves and pray when they see me. I don’t understand this reaction,” Kopyshchyk said.

Once, in a café, Kopyshchyk met a grandmother with her grandchildren, and one of the girls kept paying attention to him. The veteran didn’t like it when the grandmother took the girl away if she wanted to look at his prosthetics. He even showed how he moves with their help. Kopyshchyk is not against children’s curiosity.

“I am pleasantly surprised when parents with children come up on the street and ask if the child can see the prosthetics. I can understand this curiosity,” Kopyshchyk noted.

The veteran agrees that there will always be people who will look down on veterans. He believes that it makes no sense to quarrel with them, but it is better to focus on education and explaining to the community that veterans deserve respect.

26-year-old Kopyshchyk returned to work after being injured, but in a less demanding position. He also demanded support from the authorities and recognition of veterans' rights.