Here’s how they’re celebrating Pride in Kharkiv, Ukraine, this year
A unique pride event will take place in Kharkiv this weekend.
Mark
Despite the ongoing war, LGBTQ+ advocates in Ukraine remain determined to go ahead with Pride plans this weekend in Kharkiv, near the border with Russia.
Due to its proximity to the front line, bombs continue to rain down on the city. Many of its iconic buildings have been damaged or destroyed. The wail of sirens is a common occurrence.
However, local queer campaigners believe that it’s still important to celebrate Pride, albeit in a scaled-down way. Large-scale gatherings could be dangerous.
AutoPride
Pack your bags, we’re going on an adventure
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for the best LGBTQ+ travel guides, stories, and more.
Subscribe to our Newsletter today
This Saturday (September 6, 2025), for a second year running, it will hold an AutoPride. It will consist of a small parade of cars—perhaps only a dozen or so—decked out with rainbow flags, through the city center.
It follows a small PrideFest street fair held last weekend (swipe through photos below).
(@kharkivpride)This is the seventh KharkivPride. Before the war, it was held in a more traditional format and attracted hundreds of participants. Now, organizers explore alternative ways to mark Pride.
“KharkivPride never stopped, even in the first year of the full-scale invasion: it was held in 2022 in the metro,” Yakiv Lavrynets, co-organizer of KharkivPride, tells GayCities.
“KyivPride, at the start of the war, was organized abroad – in London, and in Warsaw, where huge Ukrainian contingents took part. In 2024, it returned to Kyiv.”
Holding large-scale events in Kyiv remains safer, as it’s further from Russia. In Kharkiv, air raid alerts offer less warning of attack.
Remembering the fallen
Lavrynets says Pride remains ever important, but they’ve adapted it to reflect current circumstances. It includes a commemoration event to honor fallen LGBTQ+ soldiers.
“We hosted conversations with psychologists on the testimony of war and trauma, as well as public discussions with soldiers about values, losses, and identity.”
Part of the festival combined “educational activities with practical support: from psychological counseling to fundraising. Thanks to the event, we nearly closed a fundraising campaign of half a million hryvnias [approx. $12,000] for one of the Ukrainian military brigades.”
Ukraine has a poor record on queer rights. Gay sex is legal, but there is no recognition of same-sex relationships or anti-gay discrimination laws.
Do Kharkiv city officials support the Pride event?
“City officials avoid us and prefer to ignore us,” says Lavrynets. “Last year, we had a meeting with a representative of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration. He thought we were organizing a large march, but when he learned that everything would be in the format of an AutoPride, he was surprised but still advised us, just in case, to refrain from holding a march.”
Advancing queer rights
There have been some reports that attitudes toward gay rights are improving in Ukraine. LGBTQ+ soldiers have fought openly alongside straight comrades. Is Lavrynets hopeful of more progress on queer rights after the war?
“The war has made LGBTQ+ people more visible thanks to community members serving in the military,” he confirms. “New allies and friendly organizations have also appeared.”
However, he suggests that some people see demands for queer rights as unpatriotic when the country is at war.
“Due to constant shelling, stress, and exhaustion, some people perceive the community as something opposed to patriotism and victory. We started to hear more of ‘LGBTQ+ is not a priority right now,’ although we’ve been hearing this for the past 11 years. I believe that despite all the difficulties and challenges, activists will continue to organize Prides, do advocacy, and more. And LGBTQ+ veterans and defenders will keep fighting with their courage not only for our lives and Ukrainian cities, but also for better attitudes.
“Every year, attitudes and acceptance are growing. In 2024, 70.4% of Ukrainians said that LGBTQ people should have the same rights as all other citizens of our country.
“We do not live and work ‘after the war’,” he adds. “We are already here and now doing a lot to make it happen before victory.”
Peace
The media has talked greatly about US-led attempts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. However, such a deal still appears out of reach. Does Lavrynets feel peace is within reach?
“Ukraine is ready to negotiate with those who actually make decisions, not just create a picture and appearance of negotiations,” he replies.
“We have been hearing about possible negotiations for half a year now, and so far, there has been zero progress. I don’t think they are possible anytime soon. Moreover, Russia is not interested in them at all. It only talks about some abstract negotiations and tries to build an image of a peacemaker. Probably, people who truly wanted peaceful negotiations would at least stop launching missiles and bombs at Ukrainian cities.”
Lastly, is there any way those outside Ukraine can show their support, both for the country and for KharkivPride?
“Please, do not forget about Ukraine,” says Lavrynets. “Right now, in the very heart of Europe, the most brutal war in decades is taking place. Ukraine is restraining Russia as much as it can, because Russia is like a tumor — if it is not removed here and now, it will inevitably spread further. We have already heard Russian imperialists speak about occupying the Baltic states, Belarus, Poland, Finland, and so on.
“You can support Ukrainian PRIDE and the community by telling their stories abroad, by showing real people who suffer from the war and Russian killings. You can donate to queer organizations. Or, for example, buy our community’s merchandise — 50% of the proceeds go to charity, and the other 50% we invest in creating the next merchandise”.
ВЕСЕЛКОВА КРАМНИЧКА (@veselkova.kram)Related
Six must-do things to check out on a gay trip to Warsaw
Looking for an affordable, history-packed adventure in Europe? Warsaw may tick your boxes.
Join the GayCities newsletter for weekly updates on the best LGBTQ+ destinations and events—nearby and around the world.
