Sex, drones, and OnlyFans – Ukraine’s unlikely war fund
From bedroom to battlefield.
OnlyFans-style creator page, with Ukrainian hryvnia banknotes flowing Image by Cybernews.
- Ukraine is considering legalizing pornography so it can tax adult content creators during the war with Russia.
- Nearly 8,000 Ukrainian OnlyFans creators earned over $130 million in 2023, despite pornography being illegal.
- Minister Yaroslav Zheleznyak estimates legalization could raise up to $25 million a year, enough for about 30,000 drones.
- Some creators report police searches and seized equipment under current laws, while supporters push for legal change.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
Ukraine is weighing up the legalisation of pornography, in an effort to tax adult content creators, as it seeks to generate more revenue in the war against Russia.
The adult industry is already generating millions of dollars as it stands in Ukraine, despite it currently being illegal.
According to research by Fenix International, the parent company of adult content site OnlyFans, almost 8,000 Ukrainian content creators earned over $130 million in 2023.
Now, the government is mulling to tax this revenue in order to collect more money for Ukraine’s defence and close this legal loophole.
“Tragicomic situation”
Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak posed the conundrum at play.
These women either don't pay taxes and face criminal charges for that, or they pay taxes and get charged with violating pornography laws,Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak told The Wall Street Journal.
The crackdown is already effective, with some creators reporting police searches, intercepted equipment, while some have even fled the country to escape further punishment.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Zheleznyak estimates that legalisation could generate up to $25 million in extra revenue per year, akin to 30,000 drones.
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One of the big supporters of the pending law change is videographer Svitlana Dvornikova who previously fell prey to a police raid, as they seized $20,000 in cash, as well as her devices.
Dvornikova described herself as a "conscientious taxpayer” and dutifully set up a petition, in July, for President Volodymyr Zelensky to see, accruing over 25,000 signatures in a week.
Domestic production of drones remains one of the main strengths of Ukraine's defense strategy, yet it puts enormous pressure on Kyiv's finances.
And while $25 million might not sound like a huge amount in the context of a war economy, every little helps. Plus, a shadow industry gets brought into the formal economy to boot.
