On Sunday, several hundred LGBT Ukrainian military personnel and their supporters marched in central Kyiv to advocate for more rights and highlight their contributions in the war against Russia. The participants, many donning rainbow and unicorn patches on their uniforms, called for the government to grant them official partnership rights.
The march, described as a Pride event, lacked the celebratory atmosphere typical of peacetime gatherings and was held under rainy conditions with heavy police presence due to threats from counter-protesters. The protesters are pushing for legal reforms to enable same-sex partners to make medical decisions for wounded soldiers and to handle the burial of war casualties.
Dmitriy Pavlov, an LGBT soldier, emphasized their equal participation in the fight yet noted the deprivation of certain rights afforded to others. The rally was attended by staff from the US Embassy and several European embassies.
Organizers faced challenges, including a denied petition to hold the event at a metro station and condemnation from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Church described the march as a political move aimed at undermining traditional family structures and weakening Ukrainian society amidst the war.
Police set up cordons to separate the marchers from counter-demonstrators, who were seen carrying anti-gay signs and marched to a memorial for fallen soldiers. Both groups called for increased foreign support for Ukraine, chanting “Arm Ukraine now!”