‘We fight, we have war traumas, we exist’: defending the rights of LGBT+ veterans in Ukraine
Amid Ukraine’s ongoing fight for freedom, another struggle unfolds − the pursuit of equal rights for LGBT+ military personnel. Despite risking their lives on the front lines, many continue to confront prejudice and hostility, including upon returning home. The 2025 Sunny Bunny Queer Film Festival held in Kyiv in April is a recent episode, where far-right groups attempted to disrupt the event. Yet, among those standing proudly at the festival were LGBT+ soldiers themselves, openly asserting their right to dignity and respect. The NGO ‘Ukrainian LGBT Defenders for Equal Rights’ uses EU funding to provide advocacy, legal support and public awareness to these brave individuals, fostering a vision of Ukraine where every defender’s courage is honoured equally.
“The topic of LGBT people is still taboo in the Ukrainian army. Discrimination runs deep − both during and after service − rooted in post-totalitarian attitudes that are still present in our society,” says Viktor Pylypenko, head of the ‘Ukrainian LGBT Defenders for Equal Rights’. Starting in 2018 as a small community of LGBT military personnel, it grew by 2021 into an official organisation to advocate for their rights in the armed forces.
The war highlighted the vulnerabilities of LGBT individuals. Many gay and transgender people are emotionally fragile and affected by war trauma. Despite this, they are often sent to fight without consideration of their wellbeing or the effectiveness of their deployment. “People need to understand that many will simply be killed at the front, thrown like straw into a stove,” stresses Viktor, who has experienced the harsh reality of the frontline since 2014.
During military service, LGBT personnel often face systemic discrimination and mistreatment: commanders target them with gossip, sabotage their careers and deliberately assign them to the riskiest missions. This abuse is compounded if they speak out against corruption or incompetence, leading to isolation, despair and, in some cases, desertion. On top of this, same-sex partners are denied recognition, excluding them from state support programmes available to military families. Although a draft law #9103 on civil partnerships was prepared long ago, it has yet to be adopted, further entrenching this inequality.
To counter this injustice, the NGO has created an active community of over 600 LGBT veterans, including those disabled and discharged from service. With EU support via the International Renaissance Foundation (IRF), they established a veterans’ hub in Kyiv – a safe, inclusive space offering psychological, legal and peer support. It has quickly become a vital refuge for many. “It helps us feel protected, among like-minded people, and feel normal,” says Dmytro Pavlov (32), a gay veteran.
Dmytro joined the army in March 2022, but was wounded three months later near Bakhmut. During his recovery, he discovered the NGO’s community on Instagram and reached out to Viktor Pylypenko. “It was a difficult period for me – I did not communicate with my parents, my comrades were fighting, and I didn’t have much support,” recalls Dmytro. At the hub, he saw the inspiring examples of other wounded soldiers, and found the courage to come out, realising that he wanted to ‘live freely and breathe fully’. Since then, Dmytro has been an active community member, an ambassador of the Sunny Bunny film festival, a vocal participant in Kyiv Pride, and in meetings with Members of Parliament.
Legal defence on the frontline of equality
Legal support provided by the NGO has proved crucial for many. A 37-year-old lesbian combat medic, who requested anonymity, shared that the organisation’s legal consultations helped her navigate the complex demobilisation process and guided her through preparing the necessary documents. “The lawyer was a great help in preparing the required paperwork,” the veteran recalls.
Thanks to EU funding, ‘Ukrainian LGBT Defenders for Equal Rights’ process 15-30 individual legal requests monthly, ranging from dismissal procedures and medical documentation to leave requests and combatant status certification. “Eighty per cent of our clients are active-duty service members,” says Oleksandr Danylov, the NGO’s lawyer. “The need for assistance often stems from a lack of clear legal regulations, especially in cases involving LGBT individuals, such as a soldier who changed gender after receiving combatant status, or partners struggling to access information about missing loved ones due to the absence of legal family recognition.”
One landmark case involved a veteran who transitioned from female to male after receiving their combatant status certificate. Authorities were unsure how to proceed, but the NGO successfully guided the process to change the certificate accordingly. “It’s a great feeling when we can make the system work for people,” notes the lawyer.
Unfortunately, not all cases end in victory, often due to the absence of the legal framework. Many involve harassment, bodily injuries caused by hatred towards LGBT people, as well as abuse by commanders. “The lack of regulation highlights the urgent need for legal assistance,” says Olexandr. “Despite limited resources, we continue to provide pro bono support to meet the overwhelming requests not only of the veterans but also of service people.”
From the battlefield to the bookstore
In April 2025, the NGO launched one of its most powerful initiatives: the groundbreaking book, LGBTIQ+ Veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian War. Written by veteran and human rights defender Alina Sarnatska, it collects testimonies from LGBT soldiers and their allies. “These stories matter − not just to the LGBT community, but to the whole country. It’s not just about recognition − it’s about rewriting Ukraine’s history to include all of its defenders.”
The idea behind the book echoes the past, recalling how after World War II records about combatting LGBT people had to be painstakingly gathered from fragmented sources across different countries, with limited records found despite the many who had existed. This book contributes to preserving Ukrainian culture and memory, ensuring that LGBT veterans are not erased from history.
Driving visible change
Thanks to the growing recognition of their work, the NGO has become an important player in pushing for legal reforms, including civil partnerships and anti-discrimination laws. “Every success is a step toward full equality,” says the NGO’s head. “We work with the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Veterans, the Institute of Gender Advisers and embassies. Changes are slow, but they’re real.” Their advocacy is paying off. Recent surveys show a sharp increase in public support for LGBT rights among Ukrainians, as people witness LGBT soldiers sacrificing alongside their peers.
For Ukraine, the fight for LGBT rights is deeply intertwined with its battle for democracy and independence. And for the activists and veterans at the heart of this story, International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, annually commemorated on 17 May, is more than a date − it’s a reminder of the courage and devotion they put into defending LGBT people’s rights in times of war. “We are not rear-line troops. We carry out the same combat missions, we lose loved ones, we get wounded, we die. This NGO gives us rights and makes LGBT soldiers visible,” concludes Dmytro.
Authors: Volha Prokharava, Olena Kifenko
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