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Yaroslav Zhelezniak proposes bill to legalize pornography in Ukraine to generate $25 million in tax revenue for war effort

Ukraine is considering a bill to legalize pornography to help fund its ongoing war against Russia. The legislation, co-authored by Yaroslav Zhelezniak, chair of the Ukrainian Parliament's finance committee, argues that bringing the adult entertainment industry into the legal economy could generate up to $25 million in tax revenue. Zhelezniak estimates that this revenue could fund as many as 30,000 drones for the defense effort. Currently, producing, possessing, or distributing pornography is illegal in Ukraine and can result in a prison sentence of up to seven years. However, the industry has continued to grow despite the legal restrictions. Tax authorities have begun demanding payments from adult content creators, but those who declare their income often face criminal charges for violating pornography laws. Svitlana Dvornikova, an OnlyFans creator, filed a petition to the government after being charged as a criminal for declaring her taxes. She argued that the government should recognize her as a conscientious taxpayer rather than a criminal. Following the petition, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Parliament would consider the proposal to legalize pornography.

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