Ukraine considers legalizing pornography to fund military drones

Ukrainian opposition MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak is co-authoring a bill to legalize the pornography industry in an effort to combat corruption and bolster the national defense budget. Currently, producing or distributing adult content is illegal in Ukraine and carries a prison sentence of up to seven years.

Proponents argue that legalization could generate approximately $25 million in annual tax revenue, which could fund the purchase of roughly 30,000 drones for the military. The current legal status has created a “corruption machine,” where creators operate on foreign platforms while local police departments have reportedly accepted bribes to overlook the activity.

Data from Phoenix International, the parent company of OnlyFans, indicates that 7,900 Ukrainians earned over $131 million from the platform in 2023 alone. While some creators have begun reporting income to tax authorities, doing so risks criminal prosecution under existing laws. A public petition for legalization has gathered enough signatures to require a response from President Zelenskyy.