Zelensky signs new law toughening penalties for petty theft

Source: Vekrhovna Rada of Ukraine

On Wednesday,  Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a new law that toughens administrative penalties for petty theft. The legislation introduces stricter fines and alternative punishments for offenders.

Under the new law:

  • For theft involving property worth up to 0.5 of the non-taxable minimum (up to 757 hryvnyas), penalties include fines ranging from 850 to 1,700 hryvnyas, community service for 20 to 30 hours, or administrative detention of up to 5 days.
  • For theft where the property value is between 0.5 and 2 non-taxable minimums (758 to 3028 hryvnyas), offenders face fines from 1700 to 5,100 hryvnyas, community service for 30 to 40 hours, corrective labor for up to 1 month with a 20% wage deduction, or administrative detention from 5 to 10 days.
  • Repeat offenders within a year will be fined 8500 to 17,000 hryvnyas, required to complete 40 to 60 hours of community service, face corrective labor for 1 to 2 months with a 20% wage deduction, or receive administrative detention from 10 to 15 days.
  • For three or more offenses within a year, the fine ranges from 17,000 to 34,000 hryvnyas, or offenders may face administrative detention for 15 days.

After the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine witnessed an unprecedented wave of private support for the army. Citizens, big businesses, charitable foundations, and international philanthropists began financing the country’s defense alongside state assistance provided by international partners. Estimates of total private contributions range from tens to hundreds of billions of hryvnias. However, determining the exact amount remains difficult. In many cases, companies combine military aid, humanitarian programs, tax payments, social spending, and employee support in their reporting.

Rinat Akhmetov’s military initiative, “Steel Front”, has delivered a batch of drones worth UAH 214 million to the 1st “Azov” Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine. This shipment is part of the Metinvest Group’s ongoing support for the unit in 2025.

On October 6, the Administrative Cassation Court within the Supreme Court of Ukraine continued hearing case No. 990/80/25, in which the fifth President and leader of the party “European Solidarity”, Petro Poroshenko, seeks to have Presidential Decree No. 81/2025 from February 12, 2025 — enacting sanctions by the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) — declared illegal and annulled. The plaintiff claims the document was falsified and that the sanctions are a tool of political persecution of the opposition, contrary to international norms. Government representatives deny the allegations and insist their actions were lawful. Journalists of Bukvy were present at the hearing.

Rinat Akhmetov’s Metinvest Group has completed the construction of an upgraded underground NATO Role 2 hospital in one of the hottest sectors of the frontline. This is the second stabilization point established under the Steel Front initiative in cooperation with the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The new facility, funded by Metinvest with an investment of UAH 21 million, is more secure than the first one thanks to its deeper location underground (over 6 meters) and additional fortifications.

Five armored vehicles “Kozak” have received a new mission – thanks to the support of Metinvest, they have been upgraded to full-fledged command and staff vehicles. These upgraded vehicles are now operating on the front line.