Russian media step up their work due to the transgender status of Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, the speaker of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces

Russian media outlets RIA-Novosti, Kryminform, Life.ru and others published the news of Sarah's appointment with a focus on her transgender status.

In response, Deputy Minister of Defence Hanna Maliar stated: "Sara informs the English-speaking audience - covering the events of the Russian-Ukrainian war objectively, debunking Russian fakes and propaganda." According to Maliar, the "hate on social media" has only expanded the journalist's audience.

Sarah Ashton-Cirillo arrived in Ukraine in March 2022 and began her service with the TDF as a combat medic. In February 2023, Sarah was injured.

In June of this year, Oleksii Dmytrashkivskyi, head of the Ukrainian Defence Forces press centre, announced Sarah's appointment. At that time, the Defence Forces launched a new English-language project hosted by Ashton.

"The purpose of this project is to provide the citizens of the United States and Europe with truthful operational information about the events in Ukraine and the course of hostilities," Dmytrashkivskyi wrote on his social media.

Sarah has been reporting for LGBTQ Nation on the impact of the war on the LGBTQ+ community, including documenting Russian war crimes against queer people. Ashton is a contributor to Resolute Square. She has also repeatedly reported from the frontline for CBS News.