Ukraine’s Unusual Plan to Raise Money for the War: Legalising Porn Industry?

Ukraine is considering legalising and taxing its adult-content industry to raise up to $25 million a year for government revenue during the war.

Ukraine is considering an unusual way to raise money for its war effort against Russia — legalising and taxing the pornography industry.

Although producing and distributing pornography is currently illegal, a large online adult-content industry already exists in the country. Thousands of Ukrainians earn money through platforms such as OnlyFans. In 2023, around 7,900 Ukrainian creators reportedly earned more than $131 million through OnlyFans.

The current legal system has created a difficult situation. Creators who declare their income for tax purposes can also expose themselves to criminal charges. Some have also reported alleged police extortion and raids. One creator, Svitlana Dvornikova, said she faced a police raid and later launched a petition calling for legal reform. More than **25,000 people signed it within a week**.

Following the petition, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Parliament would consider legalising pornography. Lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak later helped introduce a bill, which passed its first parliamentary vote in July 2026.

If approved, the law could generate up to $25 million in annual tax revenue, with supporters suggesting the money could help fund military equipment such as drones. While this is small compared with Ukraine’s estimated $120 billion annual defence needs, supporters argue that every additional source of revenue matters during wartime.

The bill now awaits its second vote in Parliament.