Arrests Made for Alleged Possession and Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material
A 46-year-old woman and a 51-year-old man have been detained in Kyiv on suspicion of storing and distributing child sexual abuse material via Telegram since November 2025. The suspects administered a series of Telegram accounts through which they sold video files to third parties, receiving payment to their bank cards. During a search, law enforcement seized computer equipment, mobile phones, flash drives, notes, and intimate paraphernalia. This case highlights the disturbing use of encrypted messaging apps for such criminal enterprises.
Among the materials distributed by the suspects were images of the woman's daughter, who is now an adult. The suspects have been formally notified of suspicion under Parts 1 and 4 of Article 301-1 and Part 3 of Article 301 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The sanctions under these articles provide for punishment of up to 15 years of imprisonment. The man was additionally served a notice of suspicion under Part 4 of Article 152 of the Criminal Code in connection with evidence obtained regarding the rape of the woman's underage daughter.
Status of the Pre-Trial Investigation and Crime Statistics
A court has ordered the suspects to be held in custody as a preventive measure, and the pre-trial investigation is ongoing. In Ukraine, during the first nine months of 2025, nearly 1,500 criminal proceedings were initiated under Article 301 of the Criminal Code, a 13% increase compared to the same period last year (1,498 vs. 1,320). Approximately half of this year's proceedings were opened in January and March. The total cost of forensic examinations for pornography-related cases since 2022 could reach 4.9 million hryvnias.
'The offenders administered a number of Telegram accounts through which they had been selling video files to third parties since at least November 2025, receiving payment to bank cards,' the police stated.
This incident is part of a broader trend of rising crimes related to child sexual abuse material in Ukraine, necessitating enhanced monitoring of online and social media activity. Law enforcement agencies continue their active fight against these crimes, as evidenced by the statistics showing an increase in opened criminal proceedings. Such cases also underscore the critical importance of public awareness and the need to protect children from exploitation in the digital environment.
The troubling rise in child exploitation cases in Ukraine underscores the urgent need for stricter measures against such crimes. For instance, a recent case involving a man facing a potential 12-year sentence for the sexual assault of a 5-year-old child highlights the severity of these issues and the legal consequences for offenders. To learn more about this disturbing trend and the ongoing efforts to combat child abuse, read about the conclusion of the investigation into the assault.