Queer soldier in war Ukraine: ‘Sexual orientation plays no role in war’ US imposes new sanctions on North Korea supporters

The war in Ukraine is probably the first war in which LGBTQIA+ is spoken of so openly. Three soldiers share their experiences:

Victor – Soldier

Viktor is actually a translator and project manager. Now he is fighting in the Ukraine war in the Donetsk region. He tells the Tagesspiegel what it is like to fight in war as a strange person.

Viktor had many friends and colleagues who stood up for him during the war. As soon as someone had questions or misunderstandings, his “brothers” would have defended him. That’s what he calls his colleagues. “We are all human beings here,” says Viktor. Here – in war – people are judged above all on their human qualities and efficiency in unity and in battle, he reports to the “Tagesspiegel”. “If you’re a good person, it doesn’t matter if you’re straight or gay. In war, social background and social status fade,” he added.

Legally, however, the state is a bit behind: “If a gay soldier dies or is injured in a war, he does not have the same rights as the wife of a heterosexual soldier.” That has to change. But Viktor assumes that this problem will be solved soon. He hopes full marriage equality can be introduced. «I have been with my boyfriend for two years, he is waiting for me in the war. Why should we be treated differently?” he added.

An association for queer people in the military

Viktor was already at the front as a volunteer in 2014, the Tagesspiegel reports. He served until 2016 when he came up with the idea of ​​creating an association for queer people. «LGBT Military and Our Allies» has existed as an informal association since 2018. They have been officially registered since 2021. On Facebook, they have about 4000 subscribers. “These are representatives of civil society, for example journalists, lawyers, heterosexuals in the military, who openly support us,” says Viktor. Many queer people are represented in the association: homosexuals, bisexuals, non-binary and transgender people at war have a safe place here.

Borys – Combat medic

Borys is a military combat medic. He spent months at the front training soldiers to apply tourniquets, stop bleeding, and treat gunshot wounds. He tells his story to the Polish newspaper Wiadomosci. “War makes it easier to come out in a military environment,” he says. “When death looks you in the eye, there’s no time to hesitate.” His unit knows he’s gay. “In war we have an enemy and a common goal, everything else is irrelevant,” adds Borys.

Homophobia is widespread in Russia – also in Ukraine: “We also have organizations in Ukraine that defend ‘traditional values’. Oddly enough, it sounds exactly like Russian propaganda,” he says in an interview with Wiadomosci. “According to Russian propaganda reports, all gays leave the country. But I’m here and I’m fighting for my country.”

Oleksander – paramedic

When the Russians marched in, Oleksander volunteered as a medic. He also tells the Polish newspaper Wiadomosci about his experiences during the war. Oleksander always wanted to be a pediatrician: “I talked to the injured like children,” he says. He put plasters on the injuries, blew on the wound and gave them a brave patient badge. “They came back under any pretext. Like with a psychologist,” he reports.

“Everyone needs warmth. Especially under these circumstances.” He quickly found out who is homophobic and who had no problem with him. He wanted his unit colleagues to get to know him: “I said I’m gay. Most had guessed it. Most of them had no problem with it,” he adds. Nothing changed after his outing.