Up to ₴25,500 Fine for Russian Music in Cars: What Changed in 2025
In June 2025, Ukrainian drivers began receiving unexpected fines for playing Russian music in their cars. The amount? Up to ₴25,500 (around $650). The cause? Not a new law, but the enforcement of one that’s been in effect since 2022.
What changed this year? Why is the sound from your car stereo now considered “public broadcasting”? And how does this relate to Ukraine’s cultural and legal response to full-scale war? Here’s a clear and detailed breakdown of what’s happening and why.
No new law in 2025 but a new enforcement wave
First, let’s clarify: no new law was passed in June 2025 specifically targeting drivers who play Russian music. But something else happened a shift in how existing laws are interpreted and applied by law enforcement.
The legal foundation for these fines comes from Law № 2310-IX, passed by the Verkhovna Rada on June 19, 2022. The law was signed by the President on July 7, 2022, and went into effect on October 7, 2022.
Its full title:
“On Amendments to Support National Music Products and Restrict Public Use of Music by the Aggressor State.”
The law introduced changes to:
- the Law of Ukraine “On Culture”
- the Law “On Television and Radio Broadcasting”
- and the Code of Administrative Offenses (CUoAO).
In essence, it bans public performance or broadcasting of music or videos produced by Russian citizens or related to the aggressor state. This includes radio stations, malls, restaurants and now, cars if the music is audible outside.
Why a car can be considered a public space
Many drivers believe that their car is a private domain. Legally, it is until it isn’t.
According to legal experts, once music played inside a vehicle becomes audible to people outside the car for example, through an open window or loud speakers the car becomes a source of public broadcasting. And that triggers the same legal restrictions that apply to public transportation or cafés.
Lawyer Iryna Tkachenko explained in a June 2025 interview:
“The moment sound leaves the interior of the car, it becomes a public act. This is considered public reproduction and therefore subject to the law.”
How much is the fine?
The penalties are based on Article 164-2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses:
- First offense: ₴5,100 to ₴8,500 (300-500 non-taxable minimum incomes)
- Repeated offense within a year: ₴17,000 to ₴25,500 (1,000-1,500 NTMI)
In June 2025, several Ukrainian media outlets including StopCor, InfoPotik, Patrioty reported confirmed cases where these fines were applied directly to drivers.
What happened in June 2025: real cases
June brought a new wave of enforcement. Multiple news platforms reported that drivers in Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Vinnytsia were stopped and fined by police officers for playing Russian-language music loud enough to be heard from outside the vehicle.
Examples included:
- playing loud Russian “chanson” in residential neighborhoods,
- using external speakers at parking lots,
- blasting music during wedding car parades.
Although the National Police has not issued a central statement, local police departments began issuing citations based on the 2022 law and treating loud in-car music as public dissemination of banned content.
What if I use headphones?
Important clarification: the law does not punish private listening.
If the music remains inside the vehicle and no one else hears it or if you’re using headphones there is no violation. The risk arises only when others are exposed to the content.
Legal tips:
- Keep windows closed if playing content related to Russia.
- Use headphones if unsure.
- Review your playlists especially when driving rideshare or playing music in public view.
Is this politics or protection?
Some see these fines as political censorship. But in wartime, cultural security becomes as vital as physical or economic defense.
The law doesn’t ban all Russian-language music. It specifically targets works by Russian citizens or content that promotes the Russian military, state, or war propaganda. This is part of Ukraine’s broader strategy to protect its public space from hostile influence.
It’s not about musical preference it’s about clarity of alignment in a time of war.
Key takeaways in 2025
- Law № 2310-IX has been in effect since October 2022.
- In June 2025, it began to be applied to drivers for the first time.
- If Russian music is audible outside your car even slightly you can be fined up to ₴25,500.
- To avoid fines, listen quietly or use headphones.
This isn’t about censorship it’s about boundaries. When a nation is under attack, even music becomes part of the front line. And in Ukraine today, every note matters.
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