Ukrainian Veteran Finds Healing Through Pottery After Combat Blindness
A former soldier uses tactile art to cope with war-related trauma and vision loss.
1From Battlefield to Studio
Ivan Shostak, a 38-year-old veteran, lost his sight during the brutal battle of Bakhmut in 2023. After being discharged, he transitioned from a military career to pottery in Vinnytsia. He now uses the tactile nature of clay to quiet the haunting memories of the soldiers he once led into combat.
2The Weight of Trauma
Shostak suffers from vivid, recurring nightmares where he relives the deaths of his platoon members. These intrusive thoughts often wake him in the middle of the night, prompting him to seek solace at his potter's wheel. The rhythmic hum of the machine helps him focus and temporarily silences his internal distress.
3Systemic Rehabilitation Challenges
Ukraine faces a massive challenge in integrating hundreds of thousands of veterans with severe physical trauma. Only 4% of hospitals currently offer inpatient rehabilitation services. Shostak reports that he struggled to access qualified vision specialists, highlighting a broader lack of infrastructure for those wounded in the ongoing full-scale Russian invasion.
4Financial and Social Barriers
Shostak receives monthly disability payments of 27,000 Ukrainian hryvnia, roughly 90% of the national average wage. These funds are insufficient for high-cost accessibility aids or advanced prosthetics, which can exceed $100,000. Beyond financial strain, he notes a pervasive lack of public awareness regarding the needs of disabled veterans in daily life.
5The Scale of Casualties
By mid-2024, Ukrainian health authorities recorded approximately 100,000 war-related amputation procedures. While official government data on war-disabled individuals remains classified, thousands of civilians and soldiers continue to sustain injuries monthly. The Superhumans rehabilitation center alone has treated over 5,000 patients, underscoring the immense pressure on the country's limited medical resources.
6Leadership and Combat Reality
Before his injury, Shostak served as a platoon sergeant in the 77th Separate Airmobile Brigade. He commanded a diverse group of 30 men, ranging from teachers to garbage truck drivers. He frequently clashed with senior leadership over what he deemed useless orders, eventually facing intense combat against Wagner Group forces in Bakhmut.
7The Cost of Bakhmut
During the final engagement in Bakhmut, Shostak's platoon faced relentless waves of Russian attacks. An anti-tank grenade explosion resulted in the loss of his vision and the deaths of 22 of his 30 men. This profound loss fuels his ongoing struggle with survivor's guilt and the persistent memories of his fallen comrades.
8Expanding Healing Through Art
Shostak has founded 'Pottery in the Dark,' a nonprofit dedicated to teaching the craft to other blinded veterans and children. By focusing entirely on the clay, he finds a sense of agency and peace. His initiative represents a grassroots effort to provide therapeutic support where formal state rehabilitation services remain limited.