Ukrainian soldiers march in Kyiv's Pride parade to push for equal rights

Ukrainian soldiers and their partners march in Kyiv's Pride parade for the right to marry and enter into civil partnerships in a traditional country that's trying to modernize as it aligns with Western Europe.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, hosted a Pride parade that included soldiers from Ukraine's war. NPR's Joanna Kakissis reports.

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UNIDENTIFIED MARCHER: (Speaking Ukrainian).

UNIDENTIFIED MARCHERS #1: (Chanting) Pride.

UNIDENTIFIED MARCHER: (Speaking Ukrainian).

UNIDENTIFIED MARCHERS #1: (Chanting) Pride.

JOANNA KAKISSIS, BYLINE: The 31-year-old soldier marching in his first Pride parade wears thick sunglasses and a balaclava.

PSYCHO: (Speaking Ukrainian).

KAKISSIS: "Unfortunately, no one in my brigade knows about my orientation," he says, "so I'm hiding my face." NPR is identifying him by his military call sign, Psycho, for security reasons. Next to him is Dmytro Kalinin, an IT worker whose boyfriend is on the frontline. He says they were recently harassed while holding hands in public.

DMYTRO KALININ: (Speaking Ukrainian).

KAKISSIS: He says, "I do not feel safe in Ukraine right now."

Hundreds of police blocked off streets for the Pride march.

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UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: (Speaking Ukrainian).

KAKISSIS: In a nearby counterdemonstration, men in black stomp on rainbow flags. They shout slogans about Jesus, order and the traditional family. Among them is far-right activist Dmytro Korchynskyi.

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DMYTRO KORCHYNSKYI: (Speaking Ukrainian).

KAKISSIS: He tells a local reporter, "we are for Ukraine remaining a white Christian country."

(CHEERING)

KAKISSIS: Back at the Kyiv Pride march, Gediminas Navickas, a European Union official here, insists this is not a majority view in Ukraine.

GEDIMINAS NAVICKAS: In the last years, Ukraine has shown big progress. LGBTI community is also contributing to the freedom of Ukraine. Many people in society recognize that.

KAKISSIS: A 2024 survey says 70% of Ukrainians believe the LGBTQ community should have the same rights as others. There were also protests when an update of the civil code did not include same-sex marriage and civil partnerships.

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UNIDENTIFIED MARCHERS #2: (Chanting in Ukrainian).

KAKISSIS: Olena Shatseva is a veteran. She's here with her girlfriend and teenage daughter.

OLENA SHATSEVA: (Speaking Ukrainian).

KAKISSIS: "My family does not count here," she says, "and my joining the military did not change that."

The Pride parade is cut short by news of an incoming Russian drone.

UNIDENTIFIED ANNOUNCER: (Speaking Ukrainian).

KAKISSIS: The marchers hold up their banners as they descend into the subway for shelter.

Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kyiv.

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