When war changes a life, it also opens new meanings. For Oleksandr Subchak, getting behind the wheel of a car became not just a practical necessity, but a step toward regaining inner freedom, mobility, and independence.

In 2023, Oleksandr volunteered to defend Ukraine. His combat path led him to one of the hottest front-line areas — near Bakhmut. There, amid explosions and the constant tension of daily battles, he sustained a shrapnel wound. After treatment and rehabilitation, he was discharged from military service. The consequences of the injury, particularly problems with his left leg, made themselves felt: prolonged physical exertion became a serious challenge.

Before the full-scale invasion, Oleksandr had worked as a factory operator for more than ten years. Today, he is gradually returning to civilian life, learning to plan daily routes anew and discovering new opportunities. Recently, he purchased a car and decided to take another important step — obtaining a driver’s license.

For Oleksandr, driving is not a luxury, but a comfortable and accessible means of transportation.

“After the injury, walking long distances is difficult. A car significantly makes everyday life easier: there is less physical strain behind the wheel, and I feel more mobile and independent,” he shares.

Oleksandr is originally from the Kamianets region. When choosing a place to study, he consciously opted for the barrier-free driving school of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs — a space where the needs of veterans are taken into account and conditions are created in which a person feels support rather than limitations.

“I consider this driving school the best. They truly understand veterans here, appropriate conditions have been created, and you can feel genuine human support,” Oleksandr emphasizes.

His story is about the power of adaptation, the path to independence, and barrier-free accessibility — not only physical, but also life-defining.