Ivan Shostak, a 37-year-old Ukrainian war veteran, lost his sight in the battle of Bakhmut in March 2023. After his wife left him, he found solace and purpose through pottery, learning to live in total darkness.
Now, he runs a small business and mentors other blind veterans at a rehabilitation center in Vinnytsia. - Shostak was injured by a rocket-propelled grenade that destroyed his eyes and caused a traumatic brain injury.
- He learned pottery through a project supported by Sweden and the UNDP, and now sells his work on Instagram. - His pottery features the emblem of his air assault forces and the motto 'Nobody but us'.
- The program has helped six of 11 participants earn an income, with Shostak teaching fellow veteran Viacheslav Sadovskyi.