The War on Porn Regular Updates about the Assault on The Adult Industry
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KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s parliament is taking another look at legislation that would remove criminal penalties for the creation and distribution of pornography, an activity that currently can carry a prison sentence of three to five years.
In May, the Verkhovna Rada rejected a similar measure, Draft Law No. 12191, titled “On Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine to Improve Certain Provisions on Criminal Offenses Against Public Order and Morality.” That proposal had been under consideration since November 2024.
People’s Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak introduced both measures. He submitted the newer proposal, Draft Law No. 15294, in March, before lawmakers had voted down the earlier bill.
The latest bill, like its predecessor, would revise Ukraine’s existing restrictions on 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 establish or increase penalties for child sexual abuse material, content produced without participants’ consent and the distribution of such material to minors. Consensual sexual material involving adults and distributed to adults would no longer be prohibited.
A Wall Street Journal report published Saturday described the initiative as a potential source of additional funding for Ukraine as the war with Russia continues. The renewed effort also comes as Ukrainian authorities have increased enforcement of tax laws involving content creators and following a scandal in which members of Ukraine’s press police were accused of taking bribes in exchange for ignoring pornography production and distribution.
The earlier proposal received 207 votes, falling short of the 226 needed for passage. The new bill has attracted greater support so far, receiving 231 votes in its first roll-call vote.
If the legislation clears its remaining readings, it will go to President Volodymyr Zelensky for his signature. Last year, after an OnlyFans model submitted a petition calling for decriminalization, Zelensky did not disclose his position on the issue. He said he would allow the legislative process to proceed before taking a position.
