American transgender journalist Sarah Ashton-Cirillo is the Ukrainian military spokesperson

• Sarah Ashton-Cirillo is Ukraine’s military spokesperson.
• She is an American journalist.
• She’s also transgender.

Originally from northern Florida, Sarah Ashton-Cirillo is a transgender journalist who became Ukraine’s military spokesperson

Born on July 9, 1977, she is currently 46 years old. She refers to herself as a «recovering political operative.»

It was in March of last year that she arrived in Ukraine, days after Russia’s invasion, serving as a correspondent.

Additionally, she also helped with aid negotiations, was a civilian analyst in the Ministry of Defense and a combat medic.

She’s the first openly trans war correspondent

Upon arriving in Ukraine, Ashton-Cirillo began reporting on the Russian invasion from the city of Kharkiv.

She did this for LGBTQ Nation magazine, addressing the impact of the war on the LGBTQ community.

She is considered the first openly transgender war correspondent and the only trans journalist who covered the invasion.

She was an appointed representative to advocate for aid groups, working closely with both the Ukrainian army and police.

Sarah Ashton-Cirillo’s life changed forever

After reporting on the missile attacks in Kyiv in October 2022, which she experienced first-hand, Sarah Ashton-Cirillo resigned from LGBTQ Nation.

She then became a combat medic in the Noman Celebicihan Battalion of Ukraine, but there was more to come.

In February of this year, she was injured by Russian bombings while serving on the front lines in the Donbass with the 209th Battalion of the 113th Kharkiv Defense Brigade.

Later, she was assigned to the Territorial Defense Forces and became one of their English-speaking spokespersons. In September, she was suspended.

A 35-year wait

Sarah Ashton-Cirillo began taking female hormones intermittently in 2018 before deciding to transition in May 2019.

She described it as a «35-year wait to embrace myself.» She said she would have died if she hadn’t done it.

Her transition included gender affirming surgery and growing out her hair. She was in a hurry to complete her journey as she battled depression.

«Much of what was going through my mind, especially in the book about refugees, was: ‘What would these people say if I were trans? What would they do?'» she said.

Some people don’t know she’s trans

According to Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, many Ukrainians do not realize she is transgender.

She stated that other soldiers in her unit knew, and «some people understand it perfectly.»

On the other hand, some people have asked her questions that, according to her, come from places of «genuine curiosity.»

Her experience as a trans person in Ukraine contrasted favorably with the experience she had in the United States.

Sarah Ashton-Cirillo made controversial statements

According to La Tercera, Ashton-Cirillo was suspended from her role as Ukraine’s military spokesperson for sharing comments in a video that were not approved by her superiors.

In the video, she said a «favorite Kremlin propagandist will pay for their crimes.»

Although she was suspended, she was not relieved of her duties. In an interview with Deutsche Welle, she stated that she stood by her words.

Finally, she said that she has not had any problems in Ukraine and knows two other transgender soldiers: «The military has no identity other than being military,» she concluded.