Unicorn Battalion (Ukraine)
Informal name for LGBTQ Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Unicorn Battalion (Ukrainian: батальйон єдинорогів, romanized: batalyon edynorohiv)[1] is an informal name, adopted by LGBTQ+ personnel serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, characterized by their "unicorn" insignia.[2] It is not a formal battalion, but is colloquially referred to as such, despite being a dispersed collection of personnel working in different military units.
Ukraineбатальйон єдинорогів | |
| |
| Formation | First established in 2014 |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To assist Ukrainian security and defense forces in Russo-Ukrainian War |
Region served | Ukraine |
History
Starting in 2014, following the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, many LGBTQ+ soldiers in the Ukrainian Armed Forces started wearing unicorn patches, signalling their identity, and to dispel myths about there not being LGBTQ+ personnel in the Ukrainian military.[3] Foreign LGBTQ+ fighters from Kazakhstan, Russia, and Belarus serving as volunteers in the also adopted this patch as a symbol of their identity,[4] including by those in the International Legion.[5][6] Variants of the unicorn insignia, featuring different pride flags were also seen in use.[7]
LGBTQ personnel and organizations were collaborating with and integrated in, traditionally conservative organizations such as Azov Regiment.[8] Despite the progress in attitudes, some Ukrainian LGBTQ+ personnel still faced homophobic attacks and several drawbacks due to the officially unrecognized status of gay marriage, leading to the partners of the deceased personnel to not receive state benefits.[9] In early 2025, a battalion commander was demoted over discriminating against non-binary and LGBTQ personnel and prohibiting them from wearing the "unicorn" insignia.[10]