Overview of OnlyFans Legal Issues in Ukraine
In recent years, Ukraine has seen a series of legal actions against individuals for their activities on OnlyFans, a popular content subscription service. These cases have highlighted the country's stringent stance on the distribution of sexually explicit materials.
Probation and Sentences for Content Creators
Since 2020, Ukrainian courts have handed down sentences in six cases related to content creation and distribution on OnlyFans, involving seven individuals, predominantly handed probationary sentences. For example, in 2022, the Dnipro District Court in Kyiv sentenced a woman to two years of probation for sharing pornographic photos and videos on OnlyFans. A similar ban on any pornographic material-related activities was imposed.
Another noteworthy case from Kramatorsk involved a content creator known by the nickname lilVicki, who was found to have uploaded at least 88 videos with explicit content. She was barred from engaging with computer technology and web-based information distribution for two years.
Financial Repercussions and Additional Sentences
In 2023, the Avtozavodsky District Court in Kremenchuk handed a couple a one-year probation sentence each for uploading sexual content of themselves to OnlyFans. They were also ordered to pay procedural costs totaling UAH 13,459.24.
The following year, a woman from the Odesa region faced a fine of 35,700 hryvnias for distributing explicit images and videos on OnlyFans, alongside a requirement to cover UAH 9,844.64 in state procedural costs.
In a separate 2024 case, the Bahliyskyi District Court of Dniprodzerzhynsk handed down a three-year suspended sentence to a Kamianske entrepreneur for posting pornographic videos produced by another person on OnlyFans, with additional fines and a one-year prohibition on holding any IT-related positions.
Debate Over Legalization and Moral Concerns
The recurring legal issues involving OnlyFans have sparked a broader debate in Ukraine regarding the legal treatment of pornography. People's Deputy Zheleznyak has pointed out the significant tax revenues collected from platforms like OnlyFans, suggesting a potential reconsideration of the criminal status of pornography.
Conversely, Ivan Vyhivskyi, head of the National Police, opposed this view citing moral concerns and the potential for exploitation, particularly under the shadow of ongoing conflicts. Vyhivskyi also highlighted the alarming number of criminal offenses related to child pornography, with nearly 2,000 cases registered in 2024 alone, underscoring the risks of legalizing adult pornography.
