Decriminalization of Pornography in Ukraine: What Bill No. 15294 Will Change

The Verkhovna Rada has passed Bill No. 15294 in its first reading, proposing to change the state’s approach to criminal liability for pornographic content. The document was supported by 231 members of parliament. The bill is not about legalizing all pornography. Instead, it proposes removing criminal liability for the distribution of pornographic content between consenting adults while simultaneously introducing tougher penalties for crimes involving children. If finally adopted, it will become one of the most significant reforms of Ukraine’s criminal legislation in the field of digital content in recent decades.

Ukraine currently enforces Article 301 of the Criminal Code, a provision inherited from the Soviet era that establishes criminal liability for the importation, production, sale, and distribution of pornographic materials. Depending on the circumstances, the penalties range from a fine of UAH 17,000 to seven years of imprisonment. Bill No. 15294 proposes changing this approach. In practice, criminal liability for the voluntary creation, possession, and distribution of pornography between consenting adults would be abolished. At the same time, the bill strengthens criminal liability for offenses involving children. Specifically, it proposes to:

• retain criminal liability for child pornography;
• increase the maximum prison sentence for distributing pornographic content to minors from three to five years;
• increase the maximum sentence for coercing children into participating in the production of pornography from 12 to 13 years of imprisonment.

The authors of the bill argue that law enforcement resources should be focused primarily on combating the sexual exploitation of children rather than prosecuting adults who voluntarily create or sell adult content.

How the Law Works Today

Under the current version of Article 301, criminal proceedings are initiated not only against organizers of the pornography industry. Those who may become subjects of criminal investigations include:

• webcam models;
• OnlyFans content creators;
• administrators of webcam studios;
• owners of paid Telegram channels;
• ordinary internet users who send or sell intimate photos or videos.

Court practice shows that most of these cases are unrelated to violence, human trafficking, or sexual exploitation. In most cases, defendants are people who voluntarily created their own adult content or sold it online. Although courts most often impose suspended sentences, criminal prosecution itself involves searches, the seizure of electronic devices, forensic examinations, and a criminal record.

The Scale of Prosecutions

According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, 1,480 criminal proceedings under Article 301 were opened in 2025. During the first five months of 2026, another 180 cases were registered. In 2024, courts convicted 82 people under this article. In 2025, that number increased to 99. Those convicted include webcam models, creators of paid content, studio administrators, and even users of dating websites who posted their own explicit photographs. In practice, criminal liability is applied not only to organized businesses but also to the private activities of individuals.

OnlyFans and the Legal Contradiction

The situation surrounding OnlyFans has become one of the most controversial aspects of the debate. According to official figures, more than 5,000 Ukrainian citizens earned approximately $110 million on the platform between 2020 and 2022. In 2023, that figure increased to $131 million. At the same time, the government began requiring creators to pay taxes on their income. In 2024, Ukraine’s State Tax Service received information from the British authorities about Ukrainian users of the platform and began sending notices requiring them to declare their income and pay taxes. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies continued opening criminal cases under Article 301. Supporters of the reform point to this contradiction as one of the strongest arguments in favor of changing the law. They argue that the state effectively recognizes this income as taxable while simultaneously prosecuting people for the very activity that generated it.

Corruption Risks

Another reason for revising the legislation is the corruption opportunities created by the current system. Over recent years, several OnlyFans creators and agency owners have publicly claimed they were asked to pay bribes in exchange for avoiding criminal prosecution or allowing their businesses to continue operating without interference. Similar allegations have repeatedly become the subject of investigative journalism. An additional catalyst for returning the bill to Parliament came in May 2026, when the Security Service of Ukraine detained senior police officials from several regions on suspicion of demanding bribes in exchange for not interfering with the operation of pornography studios. Following that scandal, the issue of decriminalization returned to Parliament’s agenda.

Why the Bill Had to Be Reintroduced

The first attempt to amend the legislation was Bill No. 12191, registered in November 2024. That proposal also sought to decriminalize the voluntary distribution of pornography among adults. However, in May 2026, Parliament supported it with only 212 votes, which was not enough for adoption. A group of 44 members of parliament subsequently introduced the new Bill No. 15294. Unlike the previous version, it contains stricter provisions aimed at protecting children, allowing it to gain support from a broader range of parliamentary factions. It is this bill that has now passed the first reading in the Verkhovna Rada.

Two Different Approaches to Reform

The bill has divided experts, lawmakers, and civil society into two fundamentally different camps. Supporters argue that criminal law should focus on protecting children and combating sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and coercion rather than prosecuting consenting adults who voluntarily create adult content. In their view, the current wording of Article 301 diverts cyber police resources away from genuinely dangerous crimes, creates corruption risks, and no longer reflects the realities of the digital age. Critics argue that decriminalization could encourage the growth of the pornography industry, increase the number of agencies profiting from adult content, and heighten the risk of women’s exploitation. They believe that even voluntary participation in producing such content does not eliminate the possibility of economic or psychological pressure.

What Happens Next

At this stage, Bill No. 15294 has passed only its first reading. It must still undergo revisions, pass a second reading, and receive final approval in the Verkhovna Rada. After that, it must be signed by the President of Ukraine. Only once the law enters into force could criminal liability for the voluntary distribution of pornographic content between consenting adults be abolished. Until then, Article 301 of the Criminal Code remains fully in force, and law enforcement agencies may continue opening criminal proceedings under the existing legislation.

About the Author

admin

Administrator

Visit Website View All Posts

Related posts:

A New Tax Reality for Digital Platforms: What Bill No. 14025 Changes and Why It Matters for Ukraine Bill No. 12439 a challenge to the anti-corruption system or a “new level” of business protection? When a Service Is No Longer Just a Formality: What Bill No. 4380 Changes and Why It Matters 500% Tariffs from the U.S.: Will Graham’s Bill Open a New Front in Economic Pressure on Russia’s Trade Partners?