Gay couple head to Ukraine frontline to ‘defend our culture’

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    Emily Sørensen
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    Oleksandr Zhuhan and Antonina Romanova have already been on one three-month combat tour (Picture: Reuters)

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    Oleksandr Zhuhan and Antonina Romanova have actually been combating with the Ukrainian army for 3 months (Picture: Reuters)

    An LGBTQ+ couple signed up with Ukraine’s militaries and discovered how to eliminate to stop Russia‘destroying their culture’

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    Oleksandr Zhuhan utilized to operate in the theatre with his partner Antonina Romanova, both 37, prior to the war.

    In 2014, the couple got away to Kyiv from the Crimea when Putin unlawfully annexed the eastern peninsula.

    But they discovered themselves fearing for their lives a 2nd time on February 24 as Russia sent their soldiers into Ukraine.

    Oleksandr and Antonina invested 2 days concealing in their restroom prior to choosing to do something– in spite of neither of them ever utilizing a weapon prior to.

    Antonina, who determines as non-binary with she/her pronouns, stated: ‘I just remember that at a certain point it became obvious that we only had three options: either hide in a bomb shelter, run away and escape, or join the Territorial Defence (volunteers). We chose the third option.’

    Oleksandr included: ‘Because Russia doesn’ t simply take our areas and eliminate our individuals. They wish to ruin our culture and we can’t permit this to occur.’

    Territorial Defence members Oleksandr Zhygan, 37, and partner Antonina Romanova, 37, mingle with their unit members as they prepare to depart for the frontline, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, at a train station in Kyiv.

    The couple stated their pals accepted them gradually with some even utilizing the ideal pronouns (Picture: Reuters)

    Territorial Defence members Oleksandr Zhygan, 37, and partner Antonina Romanova, 37, arrive at a train station to depart for the frontline.

    The set were fretted their brand-new leaders would be homophobic however this ended up not to be the case (Picture: Reuters)

    Territorial Defence members Oleksandr Zhygan, 37, and partner Antonina Romanova,37, board a train to the frontline, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues.

    They navigated a 2nd battle trip on May 25 (Picture: Reuters)

    The couple were fretted they may experience discrimination and homophobia in the army however they discovered‘there was no aggression or bullying’

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    One senior officer stated: ‘The only important thing on the frontline is to be a good fighter.’

    Antonina stated it was a ‘little unusual’ for the other soldiers, including: ‘But, over time, people started calling me Antonina, some even used my she pronoun.’

    The set stated their very first trip of task was so scary it altered their lives.

    They explored around Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine, about 80 miles from the port of Odesa, throughout which time Oleksandr contracted pneumonia.

    After a break in May, the couple headed back to the frontline lastWednesday

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    Territorial Defence members Oleksandr Zhygan, 37, and partner Antonina Romanova, 37, show a unicorn insignia on their uniforms symbolising the LGBTQ community, on the day of their departure to the frontline, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues.

    The couple wear unicorn spots on their uniform in action to individuals stating there are no gay individuals in the army (Picture: Reuters)

    Territorial Defence members Oleksandr Zhygan, 37, and partner Antonina Romanova, 37, make coffee before leaving for the frontline, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, at their home in Kyiv.

    Oleksandr and Antonina utilized to operate in the theatre prior to registering to the military (Picture: Reuters)

    Territorial Defence members Oleksandr Zhygan, 37, and partner Antonina Romanova, 37, get ready on the day of their departure to the frontline, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, at their home in Kyiv.

    This is the 2nd time their houses have actually been attacked by Russia– as they needed to leave Crimea in 2014 (Picture: Reuters)

    Territorial Defence member Oleksandr Zhygan, 37, turns emotional as he talks about the war efforts on the day of his departure to the frontline, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, at home in Kyiv.

    Oleksandr Zhygan utilized to be a star, director and drama instructor prior to the war (Picture: Reuters)

    The couple use a unicorn spot on their uniform, together with numerous other LGBTQ+ soldiers inUkraine

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    It is expected to be a funny action to individuals who state ‘there are no gay people in the army’.

    ‘(The neighborhood) selected the unicorn due to the fact that it resembles a wonderful “non-existent” animal,’ Oleksandr stated.

    Despite the mainly favorable reception, Oleksandr is still fretted that his LGBTQ+ relationship will not be appreciated if he passes away in the combating.

    He fears the authorities will let his mum bury him with a priest ‘reading silly prayers’ in spite of him being an atheist who has various burial want Antonina to perform.

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