On Sunday, May 4, at 9:41 PM, a group of unidentified individuals damaged an accessibility lift at Mytna Square in Lviv. Security camera footage shows the individuals climbing the stairs unaided and then lingering around the lift, seemingly interacting with it. Whether the incident was deliberate sabotage or careless behavior remains unclear.
The next day, a local resident who uses a wheelchair discovered the lift was inoperable and recorded a video appeal about the incident. This served as a stark reminder of the importance of treating accessibility infrastructure with respect.
Following the report, technicians from the contractor inspected the device and found that its control panel had been disconnected from the power source. The lift was restored the same day. Additionally, the contractor, at the request of the Lychakiv District Administration, is now working on technical solutions to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“We thank the resident for her concern and quick response. It’s deeply unfortunate that a person who genuinely needs this equipment couldn’t use it due to the irresponsible actions of others. We urge citizens to respect infrastructure designed for inclusivity. Our collective awareness determines whether people with disabilities will have equal access to public spaces,” said representatives of the Lychakiv District Administration.
The administration also encourages citizens to report any cases of damage or misuse of accessibility equipment by calling the city’s hotline at 15-80.
To recall, in March of this year, two electric lifts were installed in the underpass at Mytna Square by the contractor “Unicar-Avto” under the order of the Lychakiv administration. Community members who use wheelchairs tested the equipment upon installation.
The total cost of the lifts was 1.5 million UAH, and additional surveillance cameras were installed in the underpass for enhanced security.
Over the past six years, through the city’s Accessibility Program, 70 lifts have been installed across Lviv for people in wheelchairs and those with visual impairments (Group I). The efforts to improve urban accessibility continue.