A Kyiv court recognised a same-sex couple as a family
A district court ruling on 10 June 2025 set a precedent in Ukrainian law, as Russian drone strikes continued on cities.
What did it mean when a Kyiv court recognised a same-sex couple as a family? By 14 June 2025, the ruling had been on record for four days, and it stood out against a week of Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian cities.
On 10 June 2025, the Desnianskyi District Court of Kyiv became the first court in Ukraine to recognise a same-sex couple as a family under Ukrainian law. It ruled that the relationship between Zoryan Kis, first secretary at Ukraine's embassy in Israel, and his partner Tymur Levchuk amounted to a de facto marriage. The couple had married in the United States. They had brought the case against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which had refused to recognise their rights as spouses.
The same day, Russia launched drone attacks on Kyiv and Odesa. In Odesa, the strikes hit medical facilities and residential buildings, killing two people and injuring thirteen.
On 11 June 2025, Russian drones struck Kharkiv, damaging buildings and public facilities. Three people were killed and 60 were injured.
The court's decision and the attacks were separate events. Together they marked a week in which Ukraine's institutions continued to function under bombardment, with a court deciding a question of family rights in Kyiv while the country's cities came under fire.
