On 14 August 2025, a meeting of the “Business Without Barriers” community was held in Kyiv as part of the “My Accessibility: True Stories” forum. The event, organised by Oschadbank and Visa, brought together over 300 participants and served as a platform for discussing the implementation of inclusivity and accessibility in Ukraine.
Speakers included Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska, National Bank Governor Andriy Pyshnyy, representatives of government agencies, local authorities, civil society organisations and businesses.
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Anton Tyutyun, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Oschadbank, spoke about the bank’s path to creating a barrier-free environment — from the first inclusive branches in 2014 to modern projects aimed at removing not only physical but also communication barriers. He emphasised that true inclusivity begins with accessible communication that takes into account the specific needs of customers. Oschadbank currently has 710 inclusive branches and 10 mobile branches throughout the country.
Alexander Yablunovsky, Vice President of Products and Solutions for Visa in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus, presented the company’s global vision. Artificial intelligence and the Visa Intelligent Commerce initiative play a key role in the development of inclusiveness. He emphasised that for the company, accessibility means the practical implementation of accessibility principles in products and solutions for all users.
The forum focused on real stories and practical cases. Participants had the opportunity to learn about examples of veteran rehabilitation and visit interactive zones that simulate the experiences of people with visual impairments or those who use wheelchairs.
Oksana Zbitneva, head of the “Barrier-Free” NGO, noted that the ideas of barrier-free accessibility are gradually being implemented in spaces, services and interpersonal relationships, changing society at a profound level.
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