Ukraine's Parliament Again Considers Pornography Decriminalization

KYIV, Ukraine – The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, is again considering legislation to decriminalize the creation and distribution of pornography, an activity currently punishable by three to five years in prison. This renewed effort follows a previous bill's rejection in May and comes amidst increased scrutiny of the adult industry in Ukraine.

Legislative Progress and Previous Attempts

On September 6, 2026, the Verkhovna Rada was once again considering a bill aimed at decriminalizing the creation and distribution of pornography within Ukraine. The current law makes such activities illegal, carrying a prison sentence of three to five years.

This latest legislative push, embodied in Draft law No. 15294, was introduced by People’s Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak in March 2026. This occurred even before the defeat of a similar bill, Draft law No. 12191, which had been in the legislative pipeline since November 2024. The earlier bill, titled "On Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine to Improve Certain Provisions on Criminal Offenses Against Public Order and Morality," was rejected by the Verkhovna Rada in May 2026, receiving only 207 votes, short of the 226 required for passage.

The new version, Draft law No. 15294, has garnered stronger initial support. In its first roll-call vote, 231 legislators supported the proposal, exceeding the minimum requirement. The document now awaits amendments and a second reading, according to a July 14, 2026 report.

Both the earlier and the new bills seek to replace Ukraine’s existing law against pornography. The proposed "Draft Law on Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine to Strengthen Liability for the Production and Distribution of Child Pornography" would specify and, in some cases, increase penalties for child sexual abuse material (CSAM), material produced without participants’ consent, and distribution to minors. However, consensual material featuring and sold to adults would no longer be illegal.

The initiative to decriminalize pornography was first registered in the Rada in the summer of 2023. It proposes revising two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Article 301, which concerns the import, production, and distribution of pornography, and Article 302, which deals with the organization of “places of debauchery.”

Context and Support for Decriminalization

The current push for decriminalization occurs amidst a recent scandal where Ukrainian press police officials were accused of accepting bribes for overlooking pornography production and distribution. There has also been increased enforcement of tax laws against Ukrainian content creators.

Proponents of decriminalizing pornography argue that content between consenting adults should not be grounds for criminal prosecution. They also believe that such a change would allow law enforcement to focus on combating child exploitation, violence, and non-consensual pornography. The current law is described as vague, with supporters of decriminalization stating that a person could technically face years in prison for sending or receiving a naked photo.

The parliamentary chairman, Ruslan Stefanchuk, commented on the vote for the earlier bill, stating, "Unfortunately. I would like to see real liberalization. Wouldn't we? But the scoop is probably still firmly in place."

Should the new bill pass subsequent readings, it will proceed to President Volodymyr Zelensky for his signature. Last year, in response to a decriminalization petition from an OnlyFans model, Zelensky did not disclose his position on the issue, stating only that he would await the legislative process.

Key Facts

• The Verkhovna Rada is considering Draft law No. 15294 to decriminalize pornography.
• The current law carries a prison sentence of three to five years for creating and distributing pornography.
• Draft law No. 15294 received 231 votes in its first roll-call vote, exceeding the 226 required for passage.
• An earlier bill, Draft law No. 12191, was rejected in May 2026 with 207 votes.
• Both bills aim to increase penalties for CSAM, non-consensual material, and distribution to minors, while legalizing consensual adult content.
• The initiative to decriminalize pornography was first registered in the Rada in the summer of 2023.