This report documents violations of the rights of LGBTQI+ people in the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation (hereinafter, the “TOTs”) in the context of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The research is based on a multi-source documentation methodology drawing on data from the Vartovi platform, expert information prepared by the NGO Gender Stream, materials from Ukrainian and international human rights organizations, testimonies from survivors and witnesses, as well as information from media outlets, social media, and other publicly available sources.
Between 2022 and 2025, 29 incidents involving violations of the rights of LGBTQI+ people in the TOTs were documented. The analysis demonstrates that Russian forces have repeatedly employed similar patterns of abuse across different locations and circumstances. This points to the systematic nature of the persecution and indicates that these are not isolated incidents, but part of a deliberate policy pursued by the occupying authorities.
In many cases, sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) were a direct motive for violence or contributed to its increased severity. Survivors reported beatings, torture, unlawful detention, sexual violence, forced undressing, humiliation, threats, and mock executions. Such acts were often accompanied by homophobic or transphobic statements, sexualized insults, and attempts to degrade the dignity of the victims.
One documented case involved the gang rape of a gay man by several Russian servicemen. The assault had such severe consequences for his psychological well-being that he subsequently died by suicide.
Sexual violence was used not only as a means of physical coercion, but also as a tool of dehumanization. Documented cases include rape, sexualized torture, threats of gang rape, forced sexual acts, and other forms of sexual humiliation. The analysis indicates that sexual violence was often used to demonstrate power and to punish individuals because of their actual or perceived LGBTQI+ identity.
According to survivors’ testimonies, a lesbian woman in one of the occupied cities was subjected to repeated rape by Russian servicemen over a period of seven days. The dissemination of information about her sexual orientation was reportedly a likely reason for her persecution. Following the incident, the woman and her child went missing.
Transgender people are particularly vulnerable under conditions of occupation. Documented cases indicate persecution related to discrepancies between individuals’ appearance and identity documents, denial of access to necessary medication, forced “body checks,” humiliation, and physical violence.
The imposition and application of Russian anti-LGBTQI+ legislation in the TOTs of Ukraine has become another tool of persecution. At least eight cases were documented involving the application of legislation concerning so-called “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations.” This legislation has been used not only against LGBTQI+ people, but also as a means of restricting freedom of expression and suppressing criticism of the occupation authorities.
Persecution on the grounds of SOGI has been intertwined with political repression. In a number of cases, LGBTQI+ people were targeted not only because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, but also because of their pro-Ukrainian position or alleged support for the Ukrainian resistance. This created a situation of “double vulnerability.”
The analysis also indicates that violence against LGBTQI+ people has a demonstrative and intimidating function. Humiliation, sexualized violence, and public outing are used as tools of intimidation and social control.
The legal analysis indicates that certain documented acts may amount to war crimes under Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, including torture, cruel or inhuman treatment, unlawful deprivation of liberty, sexual violence, and outrages upon personal dignity. Where the required elements are established, certain practices may also constitute persecution as a crime against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute, particularly if committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against a civilian population.
Based on the findings, the report provides a number of recommendations. These include strengthening SOGI-sensitive documentation of international crimes within investigations into the situation in Ukraine; developing mechanisms for the protection and support of survivors; integrating SOGI-sensitive approaches into the work of international organizations and national institutions; and ensuring the appropriate legal qualification of bias-motivated crimes.
At the national level, key priorities include bringing Ukrainian legislation into greater alignment with international standards; strengthening mechanisms for investigating bias-motivated crimes; expanding access to free legal aid for victims of SOGI-based violence and discrimination; and adopting legislative amendments to ensure that discriminatory motives are properly taken into account when offences are legally classified.
The data presented in this report do not reflect the full scale of violations. This is due to limited access to the occupied territories, security risks faced by survivors and witnesses, fear of re-victimization, stigmatization, and the absence of effective protection mechanisms.
All of these facts demonstrate one fundamental point: Ukraine must restore its territorial integrity and return all its temporarily occupied territories to its internationally recognized 1991 borders.
Our citizens remain there, living under occupation. An enormous number of people continue to suffer. This is by no means limited to the LGBTQI+ community — it includes all Ukrainians who have found themselves effectively held hostage by the occupying power. If we agree to surrender or abandon these territories to Russia, it would mean only one thing: voluntarily leaving our people exposed to destruction, torture, and oblivion.
Returning the territories is, first and foremost, about returning to our people and saving human lives.
