3+ years of research
VARTOVI
Cases
Documented hate crimes against LGBTQI+ individuals.
Documented cases of hate crimes against LGBTQI+ individuals.
Sources: direct reports from survivors and witnesses; media and social networks; and partnerships with institutions (police, the Ombudsperson’s Office).
Definition of a hate crime: criminally punishable acts committed with a bias motive based on SOGIESC (sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics) or other protected characteristics, in line with OSCE standards.
Lviv and the
Region
Stalking and attempted attack on two women in Lviv
A perpetrator threatened and extorted money after sex
Assault on Andrii Plyskyi in Lviv, with threats involving a weapon
Plast refused to accept Volodymyr Vizniak as an instructor due to pressure from homophobes
Attack and stalking of an LGBTQI+ activist and TikTok blogger in Lviv
Pride badge torn off a teenager and eyes sprayed with gas in Lviv
Back splashed with paint in Lviv targeting a “rainbow shopper”
Disruption of a lecture on queer issues in Lviv
Attack on the Insight Community Center in Lviv
Attack on the Insight Community Center in Lviv
A transgender woman was not allowed to cross the border
A lecturer refused to provide study materials to a student because of her transgender identity
Cancellation of an event for Transgender Day of Visibility
Plast refused to accept Volodymyr Vizniak as an instructor due to pressure from homophobes
Church statements against the music video by Zhadan and Solovii
A Lviv priest speaking out against Pride in Lviv
Kyiv and the
Region
Assault on Daniil Skrypnyk near a bar on January 1, Kyiv
Graffiti reading “LGBT = Rusnya” on the Zhovten cinema
Assault by neighbors on two gay men in Bucha
Assault on a young man in a park after being asked, “Do you support faggots?”
Domestic violence by a mother
Disruption of a KyivPride lecture
Attack on stand-up comedian Vesta Gunchenko
Attack on Kostiantyn Omeliu near Kyrylivska Street
Theft of a Pride flag from the “Informatyka” café
Attack on a non-binary person near a metro station, targeting the lips and nails
Attack on transgender individuals (Khelga)
Attack on Surykata
Ana Babich and her partner were attacked in central Kyiv
Driving a transgender man to suicide in Kyiv
Eviction and assault
Attack on a couple after Pride
Attack on a transgender woman at CLOSER
A man stalks and abuses his wife and her brother because of photos of her presenting in a feminine appearance
Discrimination by police against survivors in case 13-01/25
A printing house refused to print a flag for LGBTQI+ military personnel
A dance teacher was dismissed following complaints from parents claiming he was “corrupting our children”
Jokonda and LGBTQI+ military personnel
A printing house refused to produce awards with the wording “LGBTQI+ military personnel”
Police misconduct toward Surykat
A taxi driver forced Oleh Maksymiak out of the car because of nail polish
Threats against KyivPride Park locations and relocation under pressure from the Ministry of Emergency Situations
Pressure from police regarding Pride Park
Filaret awarded and then revoked an award from Pylypenko
Cancellation of an LGBTQ+ book presentation due to threats
A theater staging homophobic performances (“House of Cinema”)
Volunteer march chanting “Death to LGBT three times”
Attempted disruption of Sarnatska’s presentation and stalking of Pylypenko
Stalking of Pylypenko after a book presentation
Failed attempt to disrupt Sunny Bunny
Church opposition to holding Pride Park at Mykhailivska Square
Opponents of the KyivPride March gathered for an anti-Pride rally
Kherson and the
Region
Rape of an MSM individual while in captivity in Kherson
Russian military personnel raped a lesbian woman who has a child
Militants knocked out a tooth with a rifle butt due to a “mismatch” with the gender marker
Occupying forces forced a person off a bus and beat them after checking their phone
Three victims were forced out of a car; one was shot in the leg
Gang rape of an MSM by Russian military personnel and subsequent suicide
Robbery of a group of gay men in a bathhouse by Russian military personnel
A woman and her child were repeatedly searched based on appearance and LGBTQ+ symbolism
A lesbian woman with pink hair was held in captivity, tortured, and nearly executed
A lesbian woman was beaten in bed with her partner; the partner was taken into captivity and forced to kiss another woman
A gay man living with HIV was held in captivity
Break-in and vandalism of the “Inshi” office
Abduction of a gay man from a trolleybus into captivity
Abduction of a gay man by the FSB and detention with torture for 15 days
Russian military personnel stopped two volunteers, abused them, later released them, and then shelled them
After de-occupation, Ukrainian military personnel abused individuals following a phone check
After de-occupation, police officers checked a phone and began humiliating and threatening the individual
Odesa and the
Region
Assault on a gay man by a neighbor in Odesa
Damage to a banner at an LGBTQ+ exhibition in Odesa (art museum)
“LGBT propaganda” accusations against bakery employees
Attack on Steve in Odesa
Fine for “propaganda of homosexuality” (separate cases)
Domestic violence against a transgender person in Odesa
Denial of border crossing to a transgender person
Lagoida
Occupied Territories of Crimea
A gay man who opposed the occupation authorities was charged under the article on “LGBT propaganda” and fined
A gay man fined for “LGBT propaganda”
“LGBT propaganda” accusations against bakery employees
“LGBT propaganda” charge for liking a post on OK (Odnoklassniki)
Fine for “propaganda of homosexuality” (separate cases)
A medical professional treating “gender dysphoria” in Crimea
A bookstore in the occupied territories fined for “propaganda of homosexuality”
A boy was hospitalized in a psychiatric facility and attempted suicide after being outed and subjected to harassment
ONLINE
A SOFT.ua company refuses to hire LGBTQI+ people
An article on “Vsi Razom!” and a warning from the National Council
Boxer Petro Ivanov stated he would not want children to be taught about gender
Arestovych speaking out against LGBTQI+ people
A homophobic scene during an Improv Live Show
Mariana Bezugla claims that LGBTQ+ is a disease
MP Roman Kaptelev made homophobic accusations against a gay man in the public space
Ruslan Martsinkiv commenting on Pride parades
Member of Parliament Yuliia Yatsyk speaking out against Pride parades
Homophobic statements by an Lviv city council member
Honcharenko, Tymoshenko, and Hetmantsev speaking out against Pride