The Ukrainian army is made up of countless LGBT people, for whom the Russian invasion of Ukraine is not just about defending their country, but also about defending their values and freedom.
Thousands of LGBT people in Kiev had actually wanted to join the Pride march this weekend, but due to the war, the tenth edition of the Pride has been moved to Warsaw. Many Ukrainian LGBT people have their heads elsewhere: they work on the front in the east or south of the country. The NOS spoke to two of them.
“Everyone in Ukraine is fighting, from scientists to office workers. It is a cross-section of society, so it makes sense that many LGBT people are also at the front. We all realize that we should be happy that we live in a free and independent Ukraine, not Russia, where we would be scorned and oppressed, so the willingness to fight is high.
It is not easy to talk about your sexuality in the army, because there are soldiers who regard LGBTI people as ‘sick’. I therefore try to gauge someone first, before I tell more about myself. But most colleagues are tolerant and nice. There is even an NGO that supports LGBTI people in the army.
I have been studying medicine since 2014. As a trainee doctor, I knew immediately after the Russian invasion that I had to offer my help. My calling is to help people. I now continuously save the lives of soldiers injured by shrapnel or explosions. The wife of one of ‘my’ soldiers recently called me a guardian angel, which was beautiful.
I just came out of the closet. Before the war I got to know a man during the celebration of Sinterklaas, which is celebrated with us on December 19. He turned out to be a great gift, now he is my friend. He is in Kiev waiting for me to return safely.”
“I was already in the army as a conscript when the Russian invasion started. I was immediately taken to the front, initially around Odessa. I can’t say exactly where I am now, but I’ll make sure that missiles and planes are shot down.
Of course I sometimes get stupid questions about my sexuality, but that’s just the way it is. Everyone respects me and I can work with everyone. In this day and age, it shouldn’t matter who protects you. When I came out at 17, I was bullied, but now everyone is used to it.
The struggle is hard for me, because I am not only fighting for a free Ukraine, but also for my freedom as a gay man. Look at how the Russians treat ‘normal’ Ukrainians, then you don’t want to know how they treat LGBTI Ukrainians.
My friend Vladislav is at home and supports me from a distance. He fought in the Ukrainian army in 2014 and now wanted to go back to the front, but I told him to stay at home.
A friend of mine was also in the military, but he stepped on a landmine and died on the spot. Fighting at the front is of course scary and dangerous, but now the explosions don’t scare me anymore. You can get used to everything.”
