Themes by tag: LGBT

Oksana is a soldier in the 13th Khartiia Brigade of the National Guard. She is 19 years old and openly identifies as bisexual.

Oksana was still a teenager when the full-scale invasion began. When the girl turned 18, she decided to join the military. She chose the 13th Khartiia Brigade of the National Guard – in part because of its tolerant attitude toward LGBTQ+ service members.

After completing her training, Oksana specialized in assembling FPV drones.

Currently, Oksana is on the front lines. You can communicate with her both online and offline by prior arrangement and with the approval of the press officer.

• military
• women
• LGBT

Before the full-scale invasion, Kostiantyn Frolov worked as an international trainer for a cosmetics company and taught in Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine.

Kostiantyn planned to join the army in 2022. He finally went through with his decision after his mother, who lives in occupied Crimea, sided with the aggressor country. Nowadays, Kostiantyn does not communicate with his mother.

The man is undergoing training in the capital and is preparing to become a UAV operator. Kostiantyn’s brothers in arms know about his orientation and treat him with respect.

Kostiantyn Frolov is undergoing training in the capital. The man is ready to communicate with journalists, both online and in person.

• military
• Kyiv
• LGBT

At 26 years old, Viktoriia Kasianchuk with the call sign “Zironka” (Starlet) unapologetically open about her sexual orientation as a lesbian. 

When the large-scale conflict broke out, Viktoriia felt an immediate calling to join the Defense Forces. Tragically, her brother, who volunteered for service, lost his life defending the Kyiv region in the spring of 2022. After taking time to settle her civilian matters, Viktoriia applied to the Territorial Recruitment Center earlier this year. Determined to engage in combat roles, she chose the UAV operator path. Her family has stood by her side, offering the same support they showed when she came out.

Currently, Viktoriia is undergoing training and preparing for her role in the military. She is available for interviews with journalists, accessible online by prior arrangement.

• women
• LGBT

“Ukrainian LGBT+ Military and Veterans for Equal Rights” NGO opened the first veteran hub for LGBT+ military personnel in Ukraine’s capital, which is also the first one in Eastern Europe. The goal of the hub is to create a safe space to assist LGBT+ military personnel and reintegrate queer veterans in the society. In particular, the hub will host events to help with the mental and physical health of defenders. Psychological and legal assistance as well as services by friendly sexologists will be available in the hub.

For reference: The association “Ukrainian LGBT+ Military and Veterans for Equal Rights” was created in 2018 after Anton Shebetko’s exhibition “We Were There.” During the exhibition, one of the soldiers, currently the Head of the organization, Viktor Pylypenko, came out as gay combat veteran.

The association includes hundreds of LGBT+ military personnel and veterans, some open about their identity and others keeping it private. The military is rallying to fight for the rights available to other citizens of Ukraine. Members of the association actively participate in both the defense of the Motherland against russian invaders and the protection of rights and freedoms.

• military
• Kyiv
• LGBT

On June 16, the Equality March will take place in the capital. The main slogan of the Equality March 2024 is “Together for equality and victory.”

The last time such an event was held in Kyiv was in 2021. This year, its format will be somewhat different from previous years due to the wartime conditions.

The Equality March will take place close outside but close to the shelter, as required for security reasons. The route has been agreed with the police. This year’s event will be closed, and the attendance requires prior registration.

• Kyiv
• LGBT

Anhelina has been serving in the Defense Forces for five years. In the army, she received the call sign “Max” and prefers to be addressed this way. In addition, Anhelina uses two pronouns: both he and she.

Now “Max” is 23 years old. When the full-scale invasion started the comms specialist’s contract with the army was completed. However, already on February 25, “Max” was at the Recruitment Office, ready to return to military service. The soldier claims that within over 2 years since the beginning of the full-scale war, there has been a noticeable progress in tolerance towards the LGBTQIA+ community. In addition, “Max” is a member of LGBT-military NGO and the administrator of the Sisters in Arms chat for LGBT military women.

For reference: “Max” is on the front line and is ready to communicate with journalists both online and offline, by prior arrangement.

• military
• LGBT

Mariia Volia was born and raised in Mariupol, a city in the south of Ukraine that was destroyed and occupied by the russians in spring 2022. She joined the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2015. She wanted to defend the country after the first russian attacks on Mariupol. Mariia Volia used to be a mortar commander at the front, and now she is a communications unit commander.

Before the occupation of her hometown, she had been hiding her orientation. However, after she was wounded in Mariupol, and later escaped from the russian encirclement, Mariia opened up to her brothers in arms. Currently, the commander of the communications unit hopes that civil partnerships will be legalized in Ukraine, because in the future she wants to get married with her partner.

Currently, Mariia Volia is along the Donetsk axis. The military woman is ready to communicate with journalists, both online and offline.

For reference: the defense of Mariupol lasted 86 days. On May 20, 2022, Mariupol was occupied by the russians.

• military
• occupation
• women
• Mariupol
• LGBT

22-year-old Pavlo Lehoida was going through mandatory military service when the full-scale invasion started. But after russia attacked Ukraine on February 24, 2022, he joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and served in many directions, in particular, in the South and East of the country.

Pavlo’s brothers in arms found out about his orientation by accident when they saw his conversation on the phone. The soldier says that at first the attitude towards him was quite negative, and he had to listen to a lot of insults. However, he says, now his brothers in arms don’t care about the fact that he is gay.

Pavlo has many plans for the future, which he dreams to fulfill after the victory. The serviceman hopes that a law on civil partnerships will be adopted in Ukraine. After all, a loved one is waiting for him at home. In addition, Pavlo wants to adopt a child.

• military
• LGBT

Until the full-blown war, Petro worked as a pastry chef in Odesa, making chocolate and making a variety of desserts. Before the all-out invasion, the man did not even think about serving in the army. But on February 24, 2022, Petro was one of the first to arrive at the military registration and enlistment office. He did not manage to join the Defense Forces, so immediately, but after a few tries he did enter the ranks. He took up combat medic specialist duties.

According to Petro, most of his colleagues adequately responded to his sexual orientation. The soldier dreams of statewide legal recognition so Ukraine will eventually adopt a law on civil union so he can start a family without being afraid of public condemnation.

For reference: Petro is currently in hospital in Odesa. He is ready to talk to journalists, both online and offline, by prior arrangement.

• military
• LGBT

Mariia Volia was born and raised in Mariupol, a city in the south of Ukraine that was destroyed and occupied by the russians last spring. The girl joined the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2015. She wanted to defend the country after the first russian attacks on Mariupol. Currently, Mariia Volia is a mortar commander at the front.

Before the occupation of her hometown, the girl had been hiding her orientation. However, after she was wounded in Mariupol, and later escaped from the russian encirclement, Mariia opened up to her brothers in arms. Currently, the commander of the mortar unit hopes that civil partnerships will be legalized in Ukraine, because in the future she wants to get married with her partner.

• military
• women
• LGBT