Veteran from Volyn returns to factory work after losing legs.

26-year-old Serhiy Kopeishyk was drafted into the army on the first day of the full-scale war. In July 2022, he sustained a serious injury in Mykolaiv region and had to undergo two amputations and 20 surgeries. After demobilization and prosthetics, the veteran returned to work, as reported by "Suspilne".

Serhiy returned three months ago and works at the same factory but in a different position. Instead of a sheet bending operator, he was offered a job as a stock picker in a warehouse where physical labor is less demanding.

"This position suits me very well because it's a desk job. I feel comfortable, cheerful, and good. If there are any difficulties, my colleagues are always there to help," Serhiy says.

Serhiy lives in the village of Pokasiv, located near Lutsk. Every day at seven in the morning, a work minibus picks him up.

"At work, you communicate with people and are in society, not constantly sitting at home. It helps to distract. It's an opportunity for self-realization. I don't spend the whole day in prosthetics because it makes no sense. I take them off and move around in a wheelchair," the veteran explained.

Serhiy notes that there are no accessibility issues at the factory. The company's management has committed to creating suitable conditions for the veteran. They set up space for his chair and personal belongings near his workplace.

"I was even offered to bring lunch to work, but I refused. Why would I do that when I can go to the canteen with my colleagues to eat?" Serhiy says.

Initially, colleagues were very cautious in communicating with the veteran. Serhiy works with three women, and he saw that they did not know if they could joke with him in the workplace. However, over Time, they saw that he had a good sense of humor and became more relaxed.

"When I joked that I have one leg here and the other there, they didn't know if they could laugh. But when they saw I was laughing at it myself, they relaxed," Serhiy jokes.

The HR director of the enterprise, Tetiana Plebanych, reported that they had been waiting for Serhiy's return since the summer of 2023, already when the veteran announced his demobilization. She also mentioned that their factory employs about fifty veterans, 15 of whom were hired after the start of the full-scale war.

"We fully organized a workplace for Serhiy and made an inclusive bathroom. In our company, 250 people are currently on the front line, and 13 of them have died. We strive to provide the necessary support to both those on the front line and those returning," Tetiana Plebanych explained.

Serhiy Kopeishyk has a wife, Svitlana, and a son, Mark, who is 1 year and 3 months old. He is happy to return to work as it allows him not to stay at home all the time. Now he can engage in self-realization and communicate with colleagues.

Serhiy notes that he works in the picker position temporarily and already has agreements with management about transferring to a more technological process.

Previously, the veteran appealed to the authorities after encountering numerous bureaucratic obstacles to get prosthetics and approve his demobilization.