The verdict was handed down on September 22, 2025, based on a plea agreement with the investigation: the sentence was 3 years in prison with a two-year probationary period and a separate ban on working with children. The court also ordered the convict to compensate for the costs of the examinations.
The verdict was handed down on September 22, 2025, based on a plea agreement with the investigation: the sentence was 3 years in prison with a two-year probationary period and a separate ban on working with children. The court also ordered the convict to compensate for the costs of the examinations.
The decision was reported by Economic Truth with reference to the case materials. From December 2024 to the end of April 2025, a resident of Khmelnytskyi sent pornographic photos and videos in private Telegram messages. Law enforcement officers recorded at least 26 recipients of such content. The investigation did not establish where exactly he received the materials.
The court qualified the actions under Part 3 of Article 301 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — distribution of pornographic materials using information and telecommunications systems. The sanction of this norm provides for 3 to 7 years of imprisonment. The accused pleaded guilty and agreed to a plea bargain, within which he received 3 years of imprisonment with a two-year probationary period.
Additionally, the court banned him from engaging in activities related to the education, upbringing and organization of children’s leisure for two years. He was also ordered to compensate the state for UAH 5,348.40 — the cost of expert examinations of the sent files. The case materials emphasize that even sending in personal chats can be considered criminally punishable distribution if an electronic service is used and an unspecified circle of recipients is covered.
The decision emphasizes that during the probationary period, the convict must comply with the assigned duties; in case of violation of the probation conditions, the sentence may be replaced with actual serving of the sentence.
Part 3 of Article 301 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine applies when pornographic content is distributed via Internet platforms, messengers or social networks. The minimum penalty is 3 years of imprisonment; the court may also impose additional prohibitions (for example, on working with children) and collect procedural costs. Judicial practice in such cases often provides for agreements with the investigation with the appointment of a probationary period, but for gross violations of probation conditions or repeated offenses, isolation from society is a real option.
As we previously reported, dev.ua wrote about how a court in Sumy region found a woman guilty of creating and distributing a pornographic image via the Telegram messenger. She was fined 17,000 UAH, and her phone was confiscated in favor of the state.
