Ukraine Wants to Decriminalize OnlyFans Content to Bring the Industry Out of the Shadows, According to The Washington Post
Ukrainian lawmakers are proposing to decriminalize the production of adult content in order to bring the industry out of the shadows and increase tax revenues for the state budget. The authors of the bill estimate potential revenue at approximately $25 million, while opponents of the initiative warn of a possible increase in the risks of human trafficking and sexual violence against children.
The issue of decriminalizing 18+ content in Ukraine gained momentum after tax authorities determined that nearly 8,000 Ukrainian creators on the OnlyFans platform earned over $131 million in 2023.
At the same time, the production of adult content in Ukraine remains a criminal offense. That is why lawmakers are considering amending the relevant legislation.
One of the bill’s co-authors is Yaroslav Zheleznyak. He stated that following decriminalization, the state could receive approximately $25 million in tax revenue.
According to Zheleznyak, these funds could be enough to purchase 30,000 drones for the Ukrainian military.
During the first reading of the bill in July, Zheleznyak emphasized that this money currently remains in the shadow economy.
“I believe that we, as a nation, are mature enough to acknowledge that sex exists,” the MP stated.
In the first reading, 231 lawmakers supported the bill, eight voted against it, and three abstained. The bill is currently awaiting its second reading.
One of the catalysts for drafting the bill was the story of Svitlana Dvornikova, who has about one million followers on OnlyFans.
According to Dvornikova, she received a demand from the tax authorities to pay taxes, after which she declared approximately $900,000 in retroactive tax payments.
Subsequently, the police conducted searches at her home and at the home of her elderly parents. During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized phones, laptops, and video equipment.
Dvornikova faces criminal charges. Following this, she launched a petition calling for the legalization of adult content. The petition gathered over 25,000 signatures, which was one of the factors that contributed to the drafting of the bill.
Dvornikova also stated that tax payments by industry representatives would increase revenue for the state budget. According to her calculations, the taxes she paid could finance 100 military pickup trucks or 2,000 drones.
At the same time, the number of criminal cases in Ukraine under Article 301 of the Criminal Code—which establishes liability for the illegal distribution of such content—has been rising in recent years.
According to the data cited, in the first six months of 2025 alone, 2,368 criminal cases related to adult content were opened in Ukraine.
In May, police chiefs from three regions were arrested in a case involving bribes for “protecting” about two dozen webcam studios and adult content providers. According to the investigation, they may have demanded $20,000 per month from each studio.
Opponents of the bill fear that these changes could undermine public morality and increase the risks of human trafficking and sexual abuse of children.
Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko criticized the bill in parliament and warned of the risk of child abuse.
The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations called for the bill to be withdrawn, stating that it could harm the morals and health of Ukrainian society.
At the same time, industry representatives believe that decriminalization could reduce risks for adults who voluntarily create such content.
Oksana, the head of the management department at OFM Models, said that after the bill passed its first reading, the number of women contacting the agency about work doubled.
According to her, decriminalization would allow female workers to more openly use the services of lawyers and banks and to protect their rights.
Oksana noted:
“Women were waiting for a signal from the state; this was the moment when the state finally saw these women as taxpayers, not criminals.”
Currently, the bill is awaiting its second reading, and some Ukrainian adult content creators continue to work under the threat of criminal prosecution.
Svitlana Dvornikova has stated that if the relevant changes are not adopted, she may leave Ukraine for good.
The Washington Post reports on this.
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