Nikolay Lunchenkov and Prof. Dr. Janina Isabel Steinert have published a study examining intimate partner violence (IPV) among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in Ukraine during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The research, published in the Journal of Family Violence on October 13, 2025, reveals that 39% of surveyed GBMSM enrolled in Ukraine's pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) program experienced some form of intimate partner violence in the six months preceding the study. The findings shed light on a often-overlooked vulnerable population facing multiple intersecting challenges.
"The high prevalence of IPV among GBMSM in Ukraine highlights the urgent need for integrated support systems that address the multifaceted challenges faced by this community," explains Lunchenkov, lead author of the study. "Our research shows that incorporating mental health services and community-based interventions into PrEP programs could help mitigate the impact of IPV."
The study, conducted between January and February 2022—just days before Russia's invasion of Ukraine—surveyed 1,176 GBMSM participating in Ukraine's PrEP program. Key findings include:
Emotional IPV was the most prevalent form (27% of respondents)
16% experienced sexual IPV
10% reported physical IPV
Economic pressures and decreased quality of life due to the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly associated with increased IPV risk
Substance use during sex was linked to higher rates of physical and sexual IPV
The research team, which also included Pascal Mounchid (Munich School for Politics and Public Policy), Chenglin Hong (University of Connecticut), and Elena German (Eurasian Coalition on Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity), emphasized the importance of understanding IPV within the unique socio-cultural context of Eastern Europe, where Soviet-era homophobia continues to influence attitudes toward LGBTQI+ individuals.
"These findings are particularly significant given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine," notes Nikolay Lunchenkov. "Previous research has shown that survivors of military conflict face increased risk of IPV in the post-conflict period. Our study establishes a pre-war baseline that will be crucial for understanding how the war has impacted these vulnerable communities."
The study recommends several policy interventions, including integrating mental health counseling into PrEP programs, establishing peer-led IPV support groups, and developing IPV-informed PrEP service delivery models that account for the unique barriers faced by GBMSM experiencing partner violence.
The research was supported by ViiV Healthcare's Positive Action Program as part of the “PrEP in EECA project.”
You can read the full open-access paper on the publishers website.