Veterans and Volunteer Open Auto Repair Shop in Khmelnytskyi for Adapting Vehicles for People with Disabilities

In Khmelnytskyi, a new auto repair shop has been founded by two veterans and a volunteer, specializing in the adaptation of vehicles for individuals with disabilities. This business was created after the defenders returned from the war, having sustained serious injuries.

The story behind the establishment of this auto repair shop was shared by Andrii Odarenko and Pavlo Hutsol, who are volunteers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The two men met during their service, and their friendship became the foundation for their joint business venture. In May 2022, Andrii suffered a severe injury that led to his demobilization. Soon after, his friend Pavlo faced a similar fate.

Following his rehabilitation, Andrii Odarenko returned to driving, but soon realized that operating a vehicle with his injury was extremely uncomfortable. His acquaintance, volunteer Oleksandr Verbytskyi, suggested that there was a possibility for vehicle adaptation, which sparked the idea for the auto repair shop.

Andrii Odarenko recalls, "The first question was: 'Do you know that there are places that adapt cars?' I said no, as I hadn't even looked into it. We started to research, not really knowing what we were doing; it seemed we found nothing at all. And Oleksandr suggested, 'Let's do this ourselves.'"

After this, Andrii teamed up with Pavlo Hutsol, and together with Oleksandr, they opened the auto repair shop using their own funds and securing a grant. The veterans and the volunteer also underwent additional training to be able to adapt vehicles for both civilians and military personnel who had been injured. According to the men, the costs for adapting vehicles for veterans are compensated by the state.

Pavlo Hutsol explained, "Adaptation for people with disabilities due to the war is compensated up to 70,000 hryvnias. This means a person comes to us, adapts their vehicle, and the money they spent on the adaptation is reimbursed by the state. Essentially, it can be said to be free of charge. We assist fully with the paperwork, modify the vehicle, and certify it at the MVS service center."

At the auto repair shop, mechanisms with manual levers are installed, allowing users to manually switch between brake and gas, which is crucial for individuals with disabilities. The shop has been operational for over a year, and during this time, the number of clients has steadily increased.

"First and foremost, we wanted to help people with disabilities feel free. So they can move freely, travel comfortably, and feel at ease," added Pavlo Hutsol, emphasizing the goal of their activities.

Thus, the new auto repair shop in Khmelnytskyi not only provides vehicle adaptation services but also promotes the social integration of people with disabilities, helping them to feel more independent in their everyday lives.