October 27, 2023

Duckworth Underscores Importance of Rebuilding a Fully-Accessible Ukraine

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – This week, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees—discussed how our nation can do more to support the people of Ukraine, including the at least 20,000 amputees who lost their limbs and are suffering from psychological trauma as a result of Putin’s unjustified and unprovoked war of choice against Ukraine, and highlighted the need for rebuilding efforts in that nation to focus on accessibility for those injured in the war. During a meeting with the Superhumans Center for War Injuries, Duckworth also reiterated the need for continued American support for Ukraine, which is not only critically important to the brave Ukrainians who are fighting for freedom and democracy, but also important for America’s own national security and preventing Putin from continuing his march West toward our NATO allies.

“The brave Ukrainians who lost their limbs fighting for their freedom against Putin’s unjustified and unprovoked war of choice—and all Ukrainians—deserve our continued support as they reclaim their territory and push to win this war,” said Duckworth. “Once Ukraine can turn its attention from defending itself from Russia toward rebuilding the nation, it’s also important we think about restoring war-ravaged communities with barrier-free accessibility so that wounded Ukrainian warriors can live their lives more fully in the nation they sacrificed so much to defend. I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure our nation provides uninterrupted aid for Ukraine so they can have that chance to after defeating Putin’s authoritarian regime for good.”

Duckworth has been a strong supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion. Earlier this month, Duckworth visited Romania on an official visit and reaffirmed our nation’s commitment to Romania and all members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as Putin continues waging his war of choice against Ukraine. Duckworth supported the Biden Administration’s decision to provide additional weapons and capabilities to Ukraine, including cluster munitions. As combat Veterans, she and U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) penned an op-ed on their support in the New York Times.

Duckworth also urged the Biden Administration to accelerate the sale of M1A2 SEPv3 tanks to Poland. The letter asked the Biden Administration to engage with additional NATO allies to determine if the Russian Federation’s brutal act of war requires the U.S to develop and execute any additional sales to strengthen the military capabilities of other NATO members. She called on the Biden Administration to grant Temporary Protected Status to Ukrainians in the U.S. following the Russian military invasion.

Late last year, Duckworth also met with Ukrainian Soldier Oleksandr Chaika who received care at Medical Center Orthotics and Prosthetics (MCOP) in Silver Spring, Maryland, after he was deployed to the Luhansk region as part of the Ukrainian military in the face of Putin’s war of choice against Ukraine and lost his leg to an explosive. Oleksandr has now received a prosthetic leg as part of MCOP’s Operation Renew to serve Ukrainian military personnel.

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