On January 1, 2025, at 22:57, Kyiv police received a report of an assault on Daniel Skrypnyk, a member of the LGBTQI+ community, near one of the capital’s bars.
What happened?
The conflict began inside the bar when an unidentified man made aggressive, gender-based insults.
Upon leaving the venue, the attacker continued his aggressive behavior toward other visitors. Daniel intervened, asking him to stop, which provoked an escalation. The man began pushing Daniel and threatening to kill him:
“Then he said: ‘You’re a f**got, you have no right to speak’ and pushed me with his shoulder,” Daniel told the Gender Stream organization.
Daniel attempted to defend himself using pepper spray, but the attacker continued using physical violence, pushing him onto the tram tracks and repeatedly striking him. According to an orthopedic traumatologist, Daniel was diagnosed with a concussion.
Police Response
A police patrol happened to pass by during the attack. The officers stopped and detained the attacker but, according to Daniel, later released him at the scene.
“I called the police three times. They arrived nearly 30 minutes later, but the attacker was already gone,” Daniel added.
The police documented the incident and interviewed witnesses.
Current Situation
The case has been registered under Part 2 of Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — “Violation of citizens’ equality based on their race, national origin, religious beliefs, disability, or other characteristics.”
The Gender Stream team provides legal support to the victim. Further details are not subject to disclosure as they are a secret of the investigation.
Why is this important?
This incident serves as yet another reminder of the urgent need for the adoption of Draft Law No. 5488, which would allow such attacks to be officially classified as hate crimes.
How to Get Help?
If you or your loved ones have been victims of a hate crime due to your identity or support for the LGBTQI+ community, please contact the specialists of the VARTOVI platform. We monitor, advocate, and provide legal assistance in such cases.