Ukraine’s Supreme Court recognises ‘de facto’ same-sex marriage in landmark decision

Ukraine’s Supreme Court has upheld a landmark ruling recognising the relationship of a same-sex couple as a “de facto marriage,” marking the first time the country’s highest court has confirmed such legal recognition.

The decision, announced in late February and reported by Ukrainian human rights organisations on Monday, concerns LGBTQI+ activists Zoryan Kis and Tymur Levchuk, who have lived together since 2013 and married in the U.S. state of Utah in 2021.

Ukraine’s constitution still defines marriage as a union between a woman and a man, and the country does not legally recognise same-sex marriage or civil partnerships.

However, courts have begun interpreting existing law to acknowledge “de facto marital relations” between same-sex partners. In June 2025, Kyiv’s Desnianskyi District Court ruled that Kis and Levchuk constituted a family under Ukrainian law.

A conservative organisation, Vsi Razom (“All Together”), attempted to overturn that ruling. The Supreme Court rejected its appeal, stating that the group had no legal standing in the case because the decision did not affect its rights or obligations. As a result, the earlier judgment recognising the couple’s relationship remains in force.

Human rights organisation Insight LGBTQ described the ruling as a “tremendous precedent” that may limit attempts by conservative groups to challenge pro-LGBTQI+ court decisions under claims of protecting public morality.

The case originally arose after Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs refused to recognise Levchuk as the spouse of Kis, who serves as a diplomat posted to Israel. Without legal recognition of their relationship, Levchuk could not access spousal rights related to diplomatic postings.

The couple took the issue to court, arguing that their long-term relationship and legal marriage abroad should entitle them to recognition as a family. The ruling comes at a moment of intense debate in Ukraine over legal recognition for same-sex couples.

Although same-sex marriages remain illegal, pressure has grown for legal reform, particularly as Ukraine seeks closer integration with the European Union. European human rights standards require states to provide some form of legal recognition for same-sex partnerships.

At the same time, recent draft reforms to Ukraine’s Civil Code have sparked controversy among activists who fear they could explicitly exclude same-sex partnerships from family law.

While the Supreme Court’s decision does not legalise same-sex marriage nationwide, legal experts say it represents a significant symbolic and judicial shift. By recognising a same-sex couple as a family under existing law, the ruling may influence future court cases and increase pressure on lawmakers to establish a formal legal framework for partnerships.

For LGBTQI+ advocates across Eastern Europe and the former Soviet region where legal recognition remains rare, the decision is being watched closely as a potential turning point in the region’s evolving human-rights landscape.

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