A same-sex couple in Ukraine has been officially recognized as a family in a historic court decision. The plaintiffs Zoryan Kis, secretary of Ukraine’s Embassy in Israel, and his partner Tymur Levchuk were married in the U.S. in 2021 and have lived together since 2013, according to LGBTQ Nation.
Kis and Lechuk have made multiple attempts to be officially recognized as a family. Last year, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry refused to acknowledge them as family and denied Levchuk spousal rights to accompany Kis on a diplomatic posting in Tel Aviv. This led the couple to file a legal complaint. The couple utilized their long-standing shared finances and property, joint travel records, photographs, correspondence, and witness testimony as evidence in the case.
Ukraine only has a score of 46 Equaldex’s Equality Index and currently same-sex marriage is not legal and partnerships are not recognized in Ukraine, though homosexuality is, but LGBTQ+ citizens are offered few protections from discrimination.
In making the decision to recognize Kis and Levchuk’s partnership as a de facto marriage, district court referred to the Ukrainian constitution and precedent from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) which requires ECHR member states to ensure legal protection and recognition for same-sex families.
“A very big and important step toward marriage equality in Ukraine, and a small victory in our struggle for ‘simple family happiness’ for Ukrainian diplomats,” Kis wrote on Facebook following the decision.
LGBTQ Nation reports public support for LGBTQ+ rights in Ukraine has gained traction in recent years as the country becomes more connected to Europe. In 2024, a poll from Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that 70% of Ukrainians think LGBTQ+ citizens deserve equal rights. However, a proposed law recognizing civil partnerships from lawmaker Inna Sovsun was introduced in 2023 and has not advanced to parliament due to lack of approval from the Legal Policy Committee, The Kyiv Independent reports. If passed, the bill would recognize same-sex and heterosexual civil partnerships, offer them inheritance, medical and property rights, but not marriage equality.
