Key facts
- Ivan Shostak, a Ukrainian veteran blinded in combat, has established a pottery business.
- Shostak teaches pottery to other blind veterans, helping them find purpose and income.
- He lost his sight in March 2023 during the Battle of Bakhmut.
- Pottery began as a rehabilitation exercise for Shostak after his injury and personal loss.
- His business sells pottery primarily through Instagram, with assistance from three employees.
Ivan Shostak, a 37-year-old Ukrainian veteran, has found a new path and purpose through pottery after losing his sight in the Battle of Bakhmut in March 2023. The blast that destroyed his eyes also left him with a concussion, traumatic brain injury, and neck vertebrae displacement. Following his injury, his wife left him, compounding his challenges. Shostak's journey to recovery began at a rehabilitation center, where he discovered pottery. What started as a personal rehabilitation exercise has evolved into a thriving business, with Shostak selling his creations, including cups, plates, and candle holders, primarily through Instagram. He also mentors other blind veterans, including Viacheslav Sadovskyi, at the Podillia rehabilitation center. Roman Shtohryn, the center's director, highlighted that six of the eleven participants in their pottery training program now earn an income from the craft, emphasizing the psychological benefits and immediate results of working with clay. Shostak's workshop, set up by his soldier brother, operates on his mood, as he believes the quality of the work reflects his emotional state. Each piece is marked with his air assault forces emblem and motto.