In a recent ruling, the Ship District Court of Mykolaiv has delivered a verdict against a local resident found guilty of purchasing and possessing files containing child pornography. The defendant fully acknowledged his guilt and cooperated with the investigation, as outlined in the court’s decision published in the Unified State Register of Court Decisions.
Details of the Case
The court established that between November 2024 and September 2025, the accused, while in his apartment, downloaded prohibited files from the Internet. To access the pornographic content featuring minors, he utilized the software “qBitTorrent” along with a flash drive. Law enforcement documented instances of downloading photographic and video files. During a search conducted in late February 2026, the seized computer equipment and storage devices were sent for examination, which confirmed the materials’ classification as child pornography.
Defendant’s Reaction and Court Decision
During the court proceedings, the defendant expressed complete remorse for his actions under Article 301-1, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which pertains to accessing, acquiring, and storing child pornography without the intent to distribute. Given that the man had no prior convictions, has a minor daughter, and contributed to the investigation’s progress, the court opted for a simplified procedure in accordance with Article 349, Part 3 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.
The court ruled as follows:
- Impose a 1-year probationary supervision on the defendant.
- Restrict his right to hold positions or engage in activities related to working with children and organizing their education/leisure for a period of 1 year.
- Implement special confiscation — the seized flash drives, memory cards, and hard drives will be transferred to state ownership.
- Order the defendant to pay over 21,800 hryvnias to the state for the costs of judicial examinations.
The verdict may be appealed in the Mykolaiv Court of Appeal within 30 days from its announcement.
What Does Probationary Supervision Entail?
During the one-year probation period, the convicted individual is required to periodically register with the probation authority, report any changes in residence or employment, and is prohibited from leaving Ukraine without prior approval. Should he evade the terms of his sentence, he faces the possibility of actual punishment, which could include up to three years of restricted freedom.
Previously, we reported:
