In Mykolaiv, a bus driver was ordered to undergo additional training following an incident involving inappropriate behaviour towards a passenger in a wheelchair

‘Mykolaivpastrans’ buses. Archive photo: ‘NikVesti’

In Mykolaiv, a passenger complained about the inappropriate behaviour of the driver of bus №1, operated by the municipal enterprise «Mykolaivpastrans», whilst a person in a wheelchair was alighting.

A complaint to this effect was received by the Contact Centre at Mykolaiv City Council.

According to local resident Iryna Kurhanova, the incident took place on 9 May on a bus travelling from the Pivnichnyi district. As the complainant claims, whilst the passenger was alighting at the bus stop, the driver used inappropriate language in a loud voice when addressing the person with a disability, thereby humiliating them in front of other passengers.

«The driver shouted «invalid» to the whole bus, humiliating the person’s dignity,» the woman notes.

In her complaint, she emphasised that, in accordance with current Ukrainian legislation, the official and correct term is «person with a disability», and called on the company’s management to conduct awareness-raising sessions with staff regarding ethical standards of communication and compliance with the law.

In response to the complaint, the municipal enterprise «Mykolaivpastrans» apologised for the situation and stated that additional training would be provided to drivers.

«We apologise for the driver’s incorrect and inappropriate use of the term ‘person with a disability’. In official channels and on buses, everything is displayed and written correctly. Additional training will be provided to drivers on this matter,» the company stated.

Mykolaivpastrans’ response to the complaint

It was previously reported that Mykolaiv would be exploring opportunities to develop an inclusive beach for people with disabilities.

It is worth noting that in Odesa, the «Bezmezh» inclusive beach was visited by around 160,000 people in 2025.

In March 2025, work began in Odesa on the restoration of the inclusive beach at the 11th station of Velykyi Fontan. The city budget allocated 19.5 million hryvnias for its major renovation and infrastructure refurbishment.

From June to September 2025, residents of Mykolaiv with musculoskeletal disorders were transported free of charge to the inclusive beach in Odesa.