Invisible on the front line: Disability and childhood in Ukraine during the war - needs and barriers faced by children with disabilities and their families in war-affected communities in Ukraine (April 2025)

According to a new study by ReliefWeb, the war in Ukraine is creating additional hardships for children with disabilities and their families. Interviews with victims and representatives of civil society organizations revealed the scale of the problems: from insufficient access to hospitals and evacuation measures to the destruction of infrastructure that provides essential services.

Experts emphasize that children and their families need to be provided with specialized assistance and information support, including in a format that is understandable to all, including sign language interpretation. Strategic measures for inclusive evacuation and rapid rehabilitation are vital to reduce the effects of war.

The new guidelines emphasize the need for active cooperation between government agencies and non-governmental organizations to promptly address the problems faced by the most vulnerable children with disabilities in war.