Benchmarks
Nifty23,958.7061.0

Precious Metal
Gold (MCX) (Rs/10g.)152,817.00-2958.0

Enter search text:

Business News›News›Trending›Porn may be legalised and taxed in Ukraine as new bill aims to generate $25 million to fund the war against Russia

Read Today's Paper

Porn may be legalised and taxed in Ukraine as new bill aims to generate $25 million to fund the war against Russia
Synopsis

Ukraine is weighing a bill that could legalise and tax its pornography industry, with lawmakers estimating it could generate up to $25 million in revenue, enough to fund around 30,000 drones for the war against Russia. The move follows growing legal contradictions where adult content creators face prosecution both for declaring and for not declaring their income.

iStock

Ukraine's Parliament is considering a bill that would legalise pornography and bring the country's adult entertainment industry into the formal tax system, a move lawmakers say could generate as much as $25 million in revenue for the war against Russia, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.



The bill, backed by lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak, who chairs Parliament's finance committee, estimates that the money raised could be enough to fund around 30,000 drones for the front lines. It has already passed its first reading in July and is now awaiting a second.



Creators Caught Between Tax Law And Criminal Law

Producing, possessing or distributing pornography currently remains illegal in Ukraine and can carry a prison sentence of up to seven years. Despite this, the adult content industry has continued to grow, reportedly with the help of corrupt police officials.



In recent years, Ukrainian tax authorities have begun seeking taxes from adult content creators. But doing so has created an unusual bind: creators who declare their earnings risk drawing attention to activity that remains criminal under the country's pornography laws.

You Might Also Like:

iPhone 17, Pro, Pro Max prices cut before iPhone 18 launch which is expected to cost Rs 10,000-Rs 20,000 more than iPhone 17 series

"These women either don't pay taxes and face criminal charges for that, or they pay taxes and get charged with violating pornography laws," Zhelezniak told the Journal, calling it a "tragicomic situation."

Bribery And Police Raids

The Journal reported that Ukraine's General Prosecutor's office recently uncovered cases in three regions where officials allegedly received bribes of up to $20,000 in connection with the adult content trade.



OnlyFans creator Svitlana Dvornikova told the Journal that police raided her home one morning while she was getting her daughter ready for school. Officers seized $20,000 in cash along with her laptop and hard drives.



"They had a list of webcam models, and knew all their addresses," Dvornikova said. She added that officers offered her a chance to pay a bribe to make the case disappear, which she refused. Another woman told the Journal that police searched her apartment in similar fashion; she later avoided a court appearance out of fear she would be pressured into paying a bribe.



The uncertainty has pushed several creators, including Dvornikova, to leave Ukraine or temporarily relocate elsewhere in Europe.



A Multi-Million Dollar Industry



According to figures cited by the Journal from Fenix International, OnlyFans' parent company, 7,900 Ukrainians earned more than $131 million through the platform in 2023 alone.



Tax lawyer Lesia Mykhalenko, who has represented more than 100 OnlyFans creators, told the Journal that prosecuting them is a poor use of government resources during wartime. "This is a victimless crime," she said. "It unnecessarily burdens the legal system at a time when we should be focused on defending the country."



A Petition That Reached Zelensky



After a criminal case was launched against her, Dvornikova filed a petition that was later published on President Volodymyr Zelensky's website. Calling herself a "conscientious taxpayer," she argued the government should not treat her as a criminal after she had paid nearly $900,000 in taxes, an amount she said was equivalent to "hundreds of Russians killed on the front line."



The petition gathered more than 25,000 signatures within a week, according to the Journal. Zelensky subsequently said Parliament would consider Zhelezniak's proposal to legalise pornography.

Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source
Add Now!

(You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)

(You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)


Read More News on
Ukraine porn legalisation billUkraine war funding dronesOnlyFans creators UkraineUkraine adult content taxYaroslav Zhelezniak porn billUkraine pornography lawporn legalisationukraine russia war

Enter search text:

Continue reading with one of these options:
Limited Access
Free
Login to get access to some exclusive stories

& personalised newsletters
Login Now

Unlimited Access
Starting @ Rs120/month
Get access to exclusive stories, expert opinions &

in-depth stock reports
Subscribe Now

ET

Unlock Access to All Exclusives with ETPrime FREE TRIAL

15 Days Free: Unlock All ETPrime Exclusives, Market Tools & ePapers

Trial offer expiring in00 : 05 : 00

I'd rather pay ₹2599 now

Uh-oh! This is an exclusive story available for selected readers only.

Worry not. You’re just a step away.

Prime Account Detected!

It seems like you're already an ETPrime member with

Login using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits

Log out of your current logged-in account and log in again using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits.

Unlock ETPrime's Exclusive Stories Today!

Subscribe to gain powerful insights on business, stock market and industry trends.

Big Price Drop! Flat 40% Off

Student Only Offer

Already a Member? Sign In now

Already a Member? Sign In now
Already a Member? Sign In now

Offer Exclusively For You

Save up to Rs. 700/-

ON ET PRIME MEMBERSHIP

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get Flat 40% Off

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

ET Prime at ₹ 49 for 1 month

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Special Offer

Get flat 40% off on ETPrime

Avail Offer
Avail Offer

Claim NowAlready a Member? Sign In now

Need Assistance?

Connect with an ETPrime expert for personalized support and guidance

+91 9484700004

' + h3 + '

' + h4 + '

' + listing + '

What’s Included with

ETPrime Membership

1Exclusive Insights That Matter

Uncover the truth with our investigative stories

Make strategic moves using the real-world case studies

Read industry-specific stories to identify emerging trends

Spot opportunities with
in-depth insights that matter

• 

  Trump temper on H-1B visas is forcing Indians to do these things to stay put in US

  

  What Adani’s US indictment means for India Inc’s overseas fundraising

• 

  Why veterans like Reliance, L&T are on acquisition spree? Aswath Damodaran has an answer.

  

  Will China’s dollar bond sale in Saudi Arabia trump the US in financial world?

• 

  Huawei launches its own OS to compete with Google and Apple. But can it win beyond China?

  

  The problem with lab grown diamonds

• 

  Why a falling rupee is a better option for the economy

  

  A list of top 20 momentum stocks that have delivered massive returns in one year

2Invest Wisely With Smart Market Tools & Investment Ideas

Alpha Trade

Get daily trade ideas from SEBI-registered research analysts.

Investment Ideas

Grow your wealth with stock ideas & sectoral trends.

Stock Reports Plus

All-in-one stock research with Stock Score, peer comparison & key signals.

BigBull Portfolio

Get to know where the market bulls are investing to identify the right stocks.

Stock Analyzer

Check the score based on the company's fundamentals, solvency, growth, risk & ownership to decide the right stocks.

Market Mood

Analyze the market sentiments & identify the trend reversal for strategic decisions.

Stock Talk Live at 9 AM Daily

Ask your stock queries & get assured replies by ET appointed, SEBI registered experts.

3Stay informed anytime, anywhere with ET ePaper

ePaper – Print View

Read the PDF version of ET newspaper. Download & access it offline anytime.

ePaper – Digital View

Read your daily newspaper in Digital View & get it delivered to your inbox everyday.

Wealth Edition

Manage your money efficiently with this weekly money management guide.

4Times Of India Subscription (1 Year)

ePaper

Read the PDF version of newspaper. Download & access it offline anytime.

Deep Explainers

Explore the In-depth explanation of complex topics for everyday life decisions.

Health+ Stories

Get fitter with daily health insights committed to your well-being.

Personal Finance+ Stories

Manage your wealth better with in-depth insights & updates on finance.

New York Times Exclusives

Stay globally informed with exclusive story from New York Times.

5Enjoy Complimentary Subscriptions From Top Brands

Docubay Subscription

Stream new documentaries from all across the world every day.

Stories you might be interested in