Ukrainka, • War Reporter

Executive Summary
An important yet underreported aspect of Ukraine's ongoing war: the experience of queer soldiers fighting on the frontlines. As Ukraine battles against Russian forces, these soldiers face a dual struggle—not just for their country, but also for acceptance and equality in a Read moresociety that has only recently begun to grapple with LGBTQ+ rights. Through a mix of in-depth interviews, embedded reporting, and a multimedia approach, I aim to highlight the personal stories of queer soldiers, focusing on the unique challenges they face in an active war zone. This project offers the opportunity to shine a light on the intersection of war, identity, and human rights in a nation fighting for both its territorial integrity and its social progress. By reporting on these untold stories, we can bring fresh, impactful perspectives to its global audience at a critical moment in history.

Background and Context
The war in Ukraine has garnered global attention, but one of the stories yet to be fully explored is the experience of queer soldiers who are not only fighting for their nation but also confronting their own battles for dignity and acceptance. Ukraine, while more progressive than many of its neighbors in Eastern Europe, remains a socially conservative society where LGBTQ+ individuals often face discrimination and exclusion.
Despite these challenges, many queer Ukrainians have joined the military to defend their country, navigating a complex relationship between their identities and their roles as soldiers. These soldiers face discrimination both within their ranks and from the society they are defending, while also confronting the very real dangers of war. The war is becoming a turning point for many—an opportunity to challenge stereotypes and shift public perception around LGBTQ+ people in Ukraine. By telling their stories, we can not only humanize the conflict but also provide critical insights into how war is reshaping Ukraine’s societal attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community.

Purpose and Objectives
The primary goal of this project is to document the lived experiences of queer soldiers in Ukraine, offering a human-centered narrative of their struggles and triumphs during this critical period. Through my reporting, I aim to:
•	Uncover the personal stories of queer soldiers on the frontlines, focusing on their motivations, identities, and the challenges they face within the military.
•	Explore the broader LGBTQ+ rights landscape in Ukraine and how the war is influencing these rights.
•	Present a nuanced picture of how war both exacerbates and challenges societal prejudices.
•	Produce impactful, multimedia content (written articles, photo essays, and potential video) that gives voice to these often marginalized individuals.
This project not only deepens the understanding of the war in Ukraine but also addresses larger issues of identity, nationalism, and human rights, making it relevant to global audiences.

Significance for media outlets
This story offers an exclusive opportunity to cover an important yet overlooked dimension of the Ukraine conflict. While there has been extensive coverage of the military and political aspects of the war, the human rights angle—especially regarding LGBTQ+ soldiers—has received far less attention.
Moreover, this reporting will have relevance far beyond Ukraine, as the struggles of queer soldiers reflect broader global issues around military service, identity, and equality. This will allow to engage a wide international audience, building its reputation as a leader in thoughtful, nuanced war reporting.

Approach
To tell these stories authentically and accurately, I plan to spend four weeks on the ground in Ukraine, embedded with military units that include queer soldiers. I will be conducting interviews with a variety of sources, including:
•	LGBTQ+ soldiers currently on active duty.
•	Their families and loved ones, to provide a broader perspective on the impact of the war.
•	Human rights activists and LGBTQ+ advocates in Ukraine.
The reporting will take a multimedia approach:
•	Written Articles: Long-form investigative pieces.
•	Photo Essays: Intimate portraits of the daily lives of queer soldiers in the conflict zone.
•	Video Clips/Short Documentary (if additional funding is available): A visual exploration of the dual challenges faced by queer soldiers in the war.
All efforts will be made to protect the anonymity of sources who may face backlash for their identity, while adhering to ethical standards of reporting in conflict zones.

Conclusion
The story of Ukraine's queer soldiers is not just a tale of war—it is a profound narrative about identity, courage, and the fight for both personal and national freedom. By funding this project, you will have the unique opportunity to amplify voices that are too often overlooked in both war coverage and discussions on LGBTQ+ rights. This story, at the intersection of military conflict and social change, will resonate deeply with audiences around the world, providing a fresh perspective on a war that has already touched so many lives.
This project represents an important and timely opportunity to continue leading the charge on human-centered, impactful journalism.

Harare, Zimbabwe • Breaking News

Zimbabwe is set to abolish death penalty after its Senate’s passed the Death Abolition Bill and sent it to President Emmerson Mnangagwa to sign it into law. Mnangagwa himself promised to abolish death penalty when he took over from Robert Mugabe during a military quo in 2017 andd is now expected to Read moresign it as soon possible. Zimbabwe currently has 62 prisoners on death row.

Luanda, Angola • Politics

O julgamento dos generais angolanos "Dino" e "Kopelipa", duas importantes figuras de Angola durante as décadas de poder do antigo Presidente do país, já falecido, José Eduardo dos Santos, começa hoje em Luanda.

Segundo o despacho da Câmara Criminal do Supremo Tribunal de Angola, que a Lusa Read morenoticiou na sexta-feira, são arguidos neste processo Manuel Helder Vieira Dias Júnior ("Kopelipa"), Leopoldino Fragoso do Nascimento ("Dino"), You Himing, Fernando Gomes dos Santos e as empresas China International Fund Angola, Plansmart International Limited e Utter Right International Limited.

Os dois generais foram constituídos arguidos em 2022 pela alegada prática de crimes como tráfico de influências e branqueamento de capitais, de acordo com o despacho de pronúncia da câmara Criminal do Tribunal Supremo de Angola, de 20 de dezembro de 2023, que a Lusa divulgou em fevereiro deste ano.

Helder Vieira Dias Júnior, conhecido como "Kopelipa", antigo chefe das secretas angolanas, e Leopoldino Fragoso do Nascimento, apelidado de "Dino", e mais cinco arguidos, incluindo três empresas, vão ser julgados pelos crimes de tráfico de influências e branqueamento de capitais, entre outros, no âmbito de um processo que envolve também a filial angolana da China International Fund.

Segundo o despacho de pronúncia, o ex-responsável pelos serviços secretos angolanos é acusado de crimes de peculato, burla por defraudação, falsificação de documento, associação criminosa, tráfico de influência, abuso de poder e branqueamento de capitais, num total de sete crimes.

O antigo chefe dos serviços de comunicações "Dino", bem como o advogado Fernando Gomes dos Santos e You Haiming, da China Internacional Fund, vão responder pelos crimes de burla por defraudação, falsificação de documento, associação criminosa, tráfico de influência e branqueamento de capitais.

O processo envolve também as empresas China International Fund Angola, Plansmart International Limited e Utter Right International Limited, que estavam acusadas de tráfico de influência, branqueamento de capitais, burla por defraudação e falsificação de documento, mas que vão responder apenas pelos dois primeiros crimes, já que, à data dos factos, a lei angolana não previa a criminalização dos dois últimos tipos legais.

As empresas foram alegadamente usadas pelos arguidos para montarem um esquema que lesou o Estado angolano em milhões de dólares, envolvendo um acordo de financiamento entre Angola e China para apoiar a reconstrução nacional, após a guerra civil que terminou em 2002.

Segundo o processo, em 2020, os dois antigos homens fortes de José Eduardo dos Santos, antigo Presidente de Angola, falecido em 2022, tiveram de entregar ao Estado várias empresas e edifícios detidos pela CIF e pela Cochan, S.A., incluindo fábricas de cimento e cerveja, uma rede de supermercados e edifícios de habitação.

Não consta entre os arguidos o ex-vice-Presidente de Angola e antigo líder da Sonangol, Manuel Vicente, cujo nome está também ausente da lista com mais de 30 testemunhas, apesar de ser citado no processo, no âmbito das suas ligações à CIF.

O tribunal rejeitou a declaração de nulidade da notificação da acusação requerida pelos advogados do general "Dino" (que pretendia que fosse aplicado ao processo o Código de Processo Penal de 1929), por "manifesta inadmissibilidade, em homenagem aos princípios da celeridade processual, economia processual e máximo aproveitamento jurídico dos atos já praticados".

Em sede de instrução contraditória, requerida por "Kopelipa", Fernando Gomes dos Santos, Plansmart International Limited e Utter Right International Limited, o tribunal considerou que os arguidos "não trouxeram elementos relevantes para infirmar a acusação" e considerou que foram recolhidos indícios suficientes para pronunciar (levar a julgamento) todos os arguidos do processo.

Num comunicado divulgado segunda-feira, o Gabinete de Comunicação do Tribunal Supremo afirma que o processo conta com 38 declarantes e testemunhas, sendo o coletivo de juízes presidido pela juíza conselheira Anabela Vicente, tendo como adjuntos Marinho Nunes e Inácio Paixão.

O procurador Lucas Ramos representa o Ministério Público neste processo, sendo a defesa assegurada pelos advogados Bangula Cuemba, Benja Satula e Amaral Gourgel.