Pasha Iagoyda, 21, (pictured left) is fighting for his country as an anti-aircraft gunner in the Ukrainian army. His partner Vladislav (right, with Pasha) fought to defend Ukraine in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea. But if Pasha is injured in the current war, Vladislav will not be able to visit him in the hospital because they are not married.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Pasha Iagoyda has been on the battlefield fighting for his country, shooting at Russian warplanes as an anti-aircraft gunner. But if he is injured or killed, his partner won’t have the right to visit him at the hospital or retrieve his body. As a same-sex couple, they are not legally related to each other under current Ukrainian law. Like many other gay men and women defending Ukraine against Russia, Pasha hopes his service will help push Ukraine towards recognising same-sex partnerships, and one day marriage.
