As of early 2026, Ukraine remains a country where same-sex marriage is not officially legalized and is not recognized by the new Civil Code. Nevertheless, the situation regarding LGBT+ rights in the country is undergoing active transformation, largely due to European integration processes and the need to protect the rights of military personnel.
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What's happening with the partnership law in Ukraine?
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is continuing to consider the bill "On the Institution of Registered Partnerships". This initiative will allow both same-sex and opposite-sex couples to register their partnerships without getting married.
- The relevant committee has already endorsed the document, emphasizing that it will help safeguard citizens' property and non-property rights.
- The authors of the bill point out that this is critically important for LGBT+ service members and also represents an important step toward EU membership.
Despite this, the bill still has a long way to go: Bill No. 9103 was introduced back in March 2023, and by the spring of 2026, it still had not passed its first reading.
And how are things going with Ukraine's neighbors?
Ukraine is not alone in its conservative stance on marriage equality. According to data from ILGA’s Rainbow Map, same-sex marriage are not permitted and are not registered as well as in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova.
However, there are exceptions to the legal recognition of unions:
- Registered partnerships are officially recognized in Hungary.
- In most of these countries, including Ukraine, LGBT people who face persecution in their home countries can be granted refugee status or subsidiary protection.
Which rights are already protected, and which remain prohibited?
Researchers assess the situation in the region on a scale from 0% to 100%, analyzing the level of discrimination, safety, and legal recognition.
Areas in which Ukraine has made progress:
- Labor Market: LGBT people are protected from criminal prosecution and discrimination in employment (no such issues have been reported in neighboring countries either).
- Legal Recognition of Gender: This rule applies in Ukraine, as well as in Poland, Slovakia, Romania, and Moldova (but not in Hungary).
- Civil Liberties: At the national level in Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, and Moldova, there are no obstacles to freedom of expression or to the funding of human rights defenders.
What is still prohibited: Throughout the region—from Ukraine to Romania and Moldova—the situation remains ban on joint adoption LGBT individuals and the recognition of paternity.
Levels of Aggression and Hate Speech
There is currently no specific legislation addressing hate speech in Ukraine; efforts to combat it are based on general provisions of the Constitution and obligations to the EU. At the same time, specific laws to combat hate speech against the LGBT+ community are already in place in Slovakia, Hungary, and Moldova.
However, according to human rights activists, there are currently no direct threats to the safety of LGBT activists in Ukraine, Slovakia, Romania, and Moldova.
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