The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine is preparing a new bill that will criminalize violations and circumvention of sanctions. This is one of the conditions for Ukraine's accession to the European Union, as well as an important tool for combating offenders and replenishing the state budget.
According to the Ministry, the proposed amendments will supplement the Criminal Code of Ukraine with a new article. They provide for criminal liability for two types of violations:
- Violation of sanctions , which can be committed both intentionally and negligently;
- Sanctions circumvention , which is manifested only in intentional violation.
The draft law defines the threshold amount after which criminal liability will occur — 100 tax-free minimum incomes of citizens, which in 2025 is UAH 151,400.
Violators face serious penalties:
- Fines from 25,000 to 120,000 NMD (tax-free minimum incomes of citizens);
- Imprisonment for a term of 2 to 10 years;
- Prohibition of holding certain positions under the age of 15;
- Confiscation of property and liquidation of legal entities with confiscation of property.
This bill is part of a broader strategy that developed countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, are already actively using to combat economic and financial crimes. As the Ministry of Justice notes, similar laws have long proven their effectiveness in other countries, and now it is time for Ukraine to act as well.
The draft law is currently in the development stage, but its adoption could be an important step towards strengthening sanctions policy in Ukraine.
