A bill on criminal liability for anti-Ukrainian sentiment has been introduced in the Verkhovna Rada

Mykola Knyazhitsky, a member of parliament from the “European Solidarity” party, has introduced a bill to parliament proposing the introduction of criminal penalties for acts of Ukrainophobia. 

Bill No. 15186 aims to strengthen the state’s informational resilience in the face of Russian aggression. The author of the bill emphasizes that current legislation on xenophobia does not account for the specific nature of Ukrainophobia as an instrument of hybrid warfare used to divide society and undermine national identity.

According to the draft, intentional actions aimed at inciting hostility, humiliating national honor, and publicly denying Ukrainians’ right to statehood will be considered criminal offenses. In particular, the ban covers calls to deny Ukraine’s statehood, justifying the assimilation of the Ukrainian people, and denying the legitimacy of the struggle for independence. Liability is also provided for publicly disparaging ethnocultural characteristics and discrediting the language and culture with the aim of weakening the state.

The implementation of these new provisions will not require additional budgetary expenditures but will provide law enforcement with clear mechanisms to respond to information attacks within the country. The bill is a response to the long-standing public demand for the protection of national dignity in the context of armed conflict. Previously, Ukraine had already established similar liability for manifestations of anti-Semitism, which provides for fines or imprisonment for up to 8 years. Thus, the new initiative aims to close gaps in legislation regarding the protection of the titular nation.