The latest political drama in Ukraine doesn’t involve tanks and battle plans, but rather dildos and ring lights. That’s right—legalizing porn is the current hot topic in Ukraine, with an OnlyFans model leading the charge. Svitlana Dvornikova launched a petition to decriminalize porn, and it acquired the 25,000 signatures needed to land on President Zelensky’s desk in only five days. Apparently, when pornstars speak, people listen.
So what does the petition call for? Dvornikova’s petition asks that consenting adults be allowed to create adult content without being treated like criminals. According to Article 301 of Ukraine’s criminal code, porn is illegal in the country, regardless of consent or whether the intended audience is made up exclusively of adults. Dvornikova isn’t just out there drumming up support so she can legally flaunt her assets—she’s a citizen who has paid millions in taxes. The petition also supports Bill No. 12191, which would get rid of outdated porn bans while strengthening legal protections for minors. It would also make the creation of non-consensual porn more easily prosecutable.
People care about having access to adult content for more than just looking for a “happy ending” to a rough day. Adult entertainers make serious money, and Ukrainian creators paid millions in taxes in 2024 alone. Legalizing porn would turn the industry into one that is protected and well-regulated, instead of what it currently is—a backdoor operation that relies on bribes and keeping unhappy participants quiet. With a legally protected adult entertainment industry, blackmailing content creators with threats of prosecution becomes significantly harder. There would also be no need for under-the-table payouts to compensate performers or convince officials to look the other way.
A legally protected adult entertainment industry is also a source of job creation that largely benefits women, ensuring that they have autonomy, financial independence, and legal recourse if someone tries to harm them on the job. Dvornikova argues that the porn industry is a victimless crime, and with legal protections and oversight in place, she just might be right.
Legal porn doesn’t just create jobs in front of the camera, but behind it too. The tech, marketing, and production work involved in content creation needs manpower. There’s also an entire industry that will need legal representation, which means a brand new sector for lawyers to occupy. Decriminalization means creators could have labor protections, could fight back against abuse in court, and could pay taxes without fear of reprisal for the work they do—all of which requires lawyers.
Ukraine is still a recognized candidate for joining the EU, which, if granted, would align it with several liberal democracies. Most of those countries already recognize sex work as work and protect those workers accordingly. If Ukraine wants in, it may need to be ready to meet those nations where they stand on sex work.
Now that the petition has reached 25,000 signatures, President Zelensky has to respond. Whether or not he supports Bill 12191, once an issue reaches the president’s desk, the conversation doesn’t just vanish. Ukrainian creators are already treating their brains—and their beauty—like exportable goods. Maybe it’s time Ukraine stopped pretending people aren’t watching porn and started making sure the people creating it are protected.
