Responsibility for Bullying: Administrative and Criminal, as Provided by Law

The problem of bullying has gained significant attention in Ukraine in recent years. From high-profile cases in schools to harassment in workplaces and on the internet — this phenomenon has ceased to be a mere 'children's game' or 'ordinary conflict.'

Society has begun to realize that systematic humiliation, insults, physical violence, or ignoring someone causes no less harm than overt crimes. Ukrainian legislation has responded to this challenge.

As of 2026, Ukraine has a comprehensive set of norms that provide for both administrative and criminal liability for bullying. However, many citizens still do not know what actions qualify as bullying, where to seek help, and what punishment awaits the offender. This article clarifies the provisions of the current legislation, types of liability, sizes of fines, and other sanctions that can be applied to individuals guilty of harassment. Understanding these norms is necessary for both potential victims, who need to know how to protect their rights, and for the offenders themselves, who often do not realize the seriousness of the consequences of their actions.

Therefore, separate topics must address the question of what criminal liability exists for bullying and what liability exists for bullying in any organization. Administrative liability for bullying is also needed to protect employees.

What is Bullying and Why is it a Violation of Law

To understand liability, it is necessary to clearly define what actions the law considers bullying. According to Ukrainian legislation in force in 2026, bullying is actions or inaction of participants in the educational process that involve psychological, physical, economic, or sexual violence, including the use of electronic communication means, cyberbullying, against a minor or underage person, as well as against an adult in certain cases defined by law, for example, in labor collectives.

The key traits of bullying include three elements. Firstly, systematic nature — a one-time conflict or fight is not considered bullying; repeated harassment lasting for a certain period, such as daily insults over a month, is required. Secondly, power imbalance — the offender has physical, psychological, or social advantages over the victim: older age, higher status, greater physical strength, group support. Thirdly, causing harm — the offender's actions cause the victim suffering, humiliation, fear, and a deterioration of mental or physical health. Bullying can be manifested in various forms: physical (beating, pushing, property damage), psychological (insults, threats, spreading false rumors, isolation, ignoring), economic (theft, extortion, deprivation of material goods), sexual (unwanted touching, indecent proposals, coercion to sexual acts), cyberbullying (stalking, insults, spreading compromising information via the internet, social media, messengers).

It is important to understand that bullying is not just 'bad deeds,' but a violation for which the law provides legal liability. The state recognizes that harassment violates a person's right to respect for their dignity, their right to safety, and their right to education and work. Since 2019, when Ukraine adopted a law to combat bullying, a consistent practice of holding offenders accountable has been formed. As of 2026, the police have received tens of thousands of reports of bullying, and every year the number of administrative and criminal proceedings increases. This indicates that society is gradually shedding the myth of 'they will sort it out themselves' and is increasingly seeking protection under the law.

What Liability is Provided for Bullying

Ukraine's current legislation provides for two main types of liability for bullying: administrative and criminal. The choice between them depends on the severity of the act, the age of the offender and the victim, and the presence of aggravating circumstances. Administrative liability arises for 'less serious' cases of bullying: systematic insults, humiliation, spreading false rumors, minor physical violence that did not cause bodily harm, cyberbullying without particularly serious consequences. Administrative cases are dealt with by courts, and the punishment is primarily fines. Criminal liability arises for more serious forms of bullying: when the actions caused bodily harm of any severity, when bullying was committed by a group of persons, when it led to the victim's suicide or attempted suicide, when committed against a minor under the age of 14, when it involved threats of murder, extortion, or other serious crimes.

Criminal cases are investigated by police investigators, and the punishment can be significantly harsher: from large fines to community service, corrective labor, restriction of freedom, and actual imprisonment. Furthermore, there is civil liability — the victim of bullying has the right to file a lawsuit for compensation for moral and material damages. The amount of compensation is determined by the court and can reach significant sums — in the practice of 2024-2025, cases of recovering from 50,000 to 200,000 hryvnias for psychological suffering caused by prolonged harassment have been reported. The law also provides for the responsibility of officials, heads of educational institutions, and employers for failing to report to the police about known cases of bullying. If a school director knew about the systematic harassment of a student but did not take action and did not report to the law enforcement agencies, they face an administrative fine.

Administrative Liability for Bullying

Administrative liability for bullying in Ukraine is regulated by Article 173-4 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses (CAO), which has undergone several amendments since its implementation in 2019, the latest of which came into effect in 2025. The article provides for three main types of offenses. The first — bullying (harassment) of a participant in the educational process. This relates to the bullying of students, trainees, teachers in schools, vocational schools, and higher educational institutions. The punishment for this part of the article is a fine ranging from 3,400 to 8,500 hryvnias (50-100 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens). The second — bullying committed by a group of persons or recurrently within a year after imposing an administrative penalty. The punishment: a fine of 8,500 to 17,000 hryvnias (100-200 non-taxable minimum incomes) or community service for a period of 20 to 40 hours. The third — cyberbullying, meaning harassment using electronic communication (social networks, messengers, email, phone calls, SMS). The punishment is the same as for the first type: a fine ranging from 3,400 to 8,500 hryvnias. The article also separately provides for liability for a head of an educational institution (school principal, university rector) for not reporting a known case of bullying. The punishment is a fine from 1,700 to 3,400 hryvnias (25-50 non-taxable minimum incomes). It is important to note that administrative liability arises from 16 years of age.

If bullying is committed by a person aged 14 to 16 years, an administrative fine cannot be applied, but a protocol is still drawn up, and the materials are sent to the commission for minor cases, which can apply educational measures (registration, obligation to issue public apologies, transfer under parental supervision). If the bullying is committed by a person under 14 years of age, administrative liability cannot be applied; however, measures may be taken against parents or guardians for improper upbringing. The procedure for bringing to administrative liability is as follows: the victim or witnesses contact the police (call 102, write a written statement, or go through the e-cabinet); the police officer draws up a protocol on the administrative offense; the materials are sent to the local court; the court reviews the case (usually within 15-30 days) and issues a ruling on the imposition of a fine or closure of the case. Importantly, the administrative fine must be paid within 15 days from the moment the ruling acquires legal force. If the fine is not paid, it is collected in a forced manner by the state executive service, and the offender may be additionally held liable.

Criminal Liability for Bullying: When is it Applied

Criminal liability for bullying is significantly more serious than administrative liability and is applied in cases where the actions of the offender contain signs of a crime as defined by the Criminal Code of Ukraine. As of 2026, the main articles under which bullying is qualified as a crime include Article 126-1 domestic violence, which may extend to cases of bullying in the family, and Articles 115 intentional murder, Articles 121-122 bodily harm, Article 129 threats of murder, Articles 186-187 robbery and robbery if the bullying involves taking property.

However, the most direct is Article 173-4 of the Criminal Code, which was introduced in 2025 and is specifically dedicated to criminal liability for bullying. It provides for punishment for systematic harassment (bullying) that has caused minor or medium bodily harm or inflicted significant mental harm or led to the victim's suicide or attempted suicide. The punishment under this article includes a fine from 17,000 to 51,000 hryvnias, or community service for a period of 150 to 240 hours, or arrest for up to 6 months, or restriction of liberty for up to 2 years. If the bullying is committed by a group of persons, or against a minor person (under 14 years), or using electronic means of communication combined with physical violence, the punishment is increased: deprivation of liberty for a period of 2 to 5 years. Criminal liability for bullying arises from the age of 14 (for particularly serious crimes like intentional murder or serious bodily harm) and from the age of 16 for other crimes. The procedure for bringing to criminal liability differs from that of administrative liability: the police open a criminal proceeding, conduct a preliminary investigation (interrogations, collecting evidence, appointing forensic or psychological examinations), after which the materials are sent to court. The case is examined according to the rules of criminal procedure, and punishment is imposed by the judge or a panel of judges. In practice between 2024-2026, the most resonant cases were when school bullying led to suicide attempts among teenagers. In such cases, offenders (even minors) were held criminally liable for driving to suicide (Article 120 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), which provides for deprivation of liberty from 3 to 8 years.

Types of Punishment for Committing Bullying

Ukrainian legislation provides for several types of punishment for committing bullying, which vary depending on the severity of the act and the age of the offender. All these punishments can be divided into three groups. The first group — administrative penalties. They are applied for the mildest cases of bullying and include: fines (from 3,400 to 17,000 hryvnias); community service (from 20 to 40 hours) — this is unpaid performance of socially useful work (cleaning the area, landscaping, working in libraries, etc.); warnings (for persons who have committed minor bullying for the first time without causing harm).

The second group — criminal penalties, applied for more severe forms of bullying. They include: higher fines (from 17,000 to 51,000 hryvnias); community service for a longer duration (from 150 to 240 hours); corrective labor (deductions of 10% to 20% of earnings to the state during a period of 1 to 2 years); arrest (detention in a temporary holding facility for up to 6 months); restriction of liberty (placement in a correctional center where the person can work and move within the center but does not have the freedom of movement for up to 2 years); deprivation of liberty (placement in prison for a period of 2 to 8 years depending on the severity of the crime).

The third group — additional penalties and measures of influence. They can be applied independently (for example, to minors), as well as in addition to the main penalties. They include: confiscation of property (for example, of a phone or computer used in committing cyberbullying); prohibition from holding certain positions (for example, working with children); deprivation of parental rights (in cases where parents encouraged or systematically failed to prevent bullying by their children); compulsory educational measures for minors (registration with the police, transfer under parental supervision, obligation to issue public apologies, restrictions on leisure activities, placement in a special educational institution).

It is important to know that punishment does not exempt one from the obligation to compensate for the incurred damage. Even if the offender paid a fine or served a sentence, the victim can file a civil lawsuit for compensation for moral and material damages. Practice shows that compensation amounts in 2024-2025 ranged from 20,000 to 200,000 hryvnias depending on the severity of suffering. For minor offenders who do not have income, fines and compensations are paid by parents or guardians, if the court finds that they did not provide adequate upbringing. It is also worth remembering that the fact of being held accountable for bullying can have long-term consequences: a record of the administrative offense is kept for a year, and a criminal record (even if pardoned) can hinder entry into certain types of jobs, especially those related to working with children or holding public positions.

Responsibility for Minors for Bullying

The issue of minors' responsibility for bullying is one of the most complex in law enforcement practice, as it requires a balance between the necessity to punish the offender and the task of not breaking the child's future through overly harsh punishment. As of 2026, Ukrainian legislation establishes different ages for liability depending on the severity of the act. Administrative liability for bullying arises from 16 years. If a child aged 16 to 18 commits bullying, the same penalties as for adults apply: fines (from 3,400 to 17,000 hryvnias) or community service.

However, if the child has no income, the fine is collected from the parents or guardians. If a minor aged 14 to 16 commits bullying, administrative penalties are not applied, but the case is reviewed by a commission for the affairs of minors, which can apply measures such as: obligating the child to apologize publicly or in the presence of the victim; issuing a warning; placing the child under police supervision; transferring the child under the supervision of parents, guardians, or the school administration; restricting the child's leisure activities (prohibiting visits to certain places, such as nightclubs); placing the child in a special educational institution for up to 1 year. Criminal liability for bullying (in the form of a crime causing bodily harm or leading to suicide) arises from 14 years for the most serious crimes (intentional murder, serious bodily harm) and from 16 years for other crimes. For minor offenders, courts may apply not deprivation of liberty but compulsory educational measures: supervising the parents or a special agency; restricting leisure activities and special behavioral requirements; placing the child in a special correctional institution (closed type) for a period of 1 to 3 years. Deprivation of liberty is applied to minors only in exceptional cases (for instance, when the minor committed especially serious crimes or when educational measures proved ineffective). At the same time, the maximum term of imprisonment for minors cannot exceed 10 years, and they serve their sentences separately from adults in special educational colonies. Besides punishing the child, measures can be applied to the parents of a minor bully for improper performance of parental duties (Article 184 of the CAO). This may be a fine ranging from 1,700 to 5,100 hryvnias, and for repeat violations — from 5,100 to 8,500 hryvnias.

Parents may also be required to compensate for the material and moral damages caused by their child's actions. In the most serious cases where parents systematically fail to control a child committing bullying and the child continues to break the law, the court may consider the issue of depriving parental rights. In practice, this occurs rarely, but such precedents have already appeared in 2025. It is important that minor victims of bullying also have a special status: the participation of a psychologist, legal representative (parents), and, in complex cases, a children’s service representative is mandatory in court proceedings. Interrogations of minors are conducted in the presence of a teacher or psychologist, without unnecessarily traumatizing the child.

Responsibility of Parents or Legal Representatives

Parents or legal representatives of a minor child bear separate responsibility for cases of bullying committed by their child. As of 2026, the law provides for several types of such responsibility. Firstly, administrative liability for improper performance of parental duties. Article 184 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses (CAO) states that parents or persons replacing them bear responsibility for evasion from performing legally prescribed duties to provide necessary living, educational, and upbringing conditions for minors. If the child committed bullying, this is regarded as a consequence of improper upbringing. The punishment under this article is a warning or a fine from 1,700 to 5,100 hryvnias. For repeat violations within a year — a fine from 5,100 to 8,500 hryvnias. Secondly, civil liability for harm caused by the child.

According to the Civil Code of Ukraine, parents or guardians of a minor aged 14 to 18 years bear subsidiary (additional) responsibility for the damage caused by such a person, if they possess insufficient property or earnings to cover it. Parents are fully liable for damages caused by a child aged under 14 years (minor). This means that if a child beats a classmate, damages property, or causes psychological harm, parents are obliged to compensate for all treatment, rehabilitation expenses, as well as to provide for moral damages (the amount of which can reach tens or even hundreds of thousands of hryvnias). Thirdly, criminal liability of parents in exceptional cases. If it is proven that parents consciously encouraged their child to commit bullying, provided them means to do so (for example, purchased weapons or paid for services of others for harassment), or systematically hid facts of bullying, they may be held criminally liable as accomplices of a crime. Sanctions range from fines to imprisonment. Fourthly, deprivation of parental rights. If parents systematically fail to fulfill their duties, and their child repeatedly commits bullying leading to severe consequences (for example, an attempt by the victim to commit suicide), guardianship authorities may raise the question of depriving parental rights. As of 2026, several court decisions are known to have been made to deprive parental rights specifically because parents ignored facts of school harassment by their son. Another issue is parental responsibility in cases of cyberbullying.

If a child uses a family computer, tablet, or internet-enabled phone paid for by parents, and the parents do not limit the child’s access to social networks or control their online activities, this may be regarded as improper performance of duties, with corresponding fines. Consequently, lawyers recommend that parents establish parental controls, inquire about whom the child communicates with online, and explain the consequences of cyberbullying. It is also important to know that parents have the right to challenge being held liable in court if they believe they have properly raised their child and the child committed bullying contrary to their efforts. For example, if parents prove that the child is influenced by a street gang or suffers from a mental disorder requiring treatment, the court may relieve parents from responsibility or reduce its amount. However, in practice, such cases occur rarely, as courts presuppose that adequate upbringing should prevent the child's deviant behavior.

Procedure for Recording and Considering Cases of Bullying

To bring the offender to justice, it is essential to properly document the case of bullying and adhere to the established procedure. The procedure depends on where the bullying occurred — in an educational institution, workplace, public place, or online.

Here’s what should be done:

1. First step — recording evidence. The victim or witnesses must gather as much confirmation of the fact of harassment as possible. For psychological bullying: save screenshots of conversations in messengers or social networks, video or audio recordings of insults (note that covert recording of a conversation can be used as evidence in court if it does not contradict national security interests), witness testimonies (preferably written, certified by signatures). For physical bullying: seek medical assistance to document bodily injuries (bruises, scratches, concussions), obtain a certificate from the trauma unit or hospital, take photographs of injuries (preferably with date and time). For cyberbullying: take screenshots of the screen, save links to publications, record the date and time of messages, contact the social network administration to demand the bully’s account be blocked and request copies of correspondence for the police.

    

2. Second step — notifying responsible persons. If bullying occurs in an educational institution (school, college, university), it is necessary to notify the class teacher, deputy director, or principal in writing. The law obliges the head of the institution to take action within 24 hours of receiving the information. If the head does not respond, or if the bullying occurs outside of the educational institution, one should contact the police directly.

    

3. Third step — contacting the police. This can be done in several ways: by calling the hotline 102; coming to the nearest police station to write a written statement; sending a statement through the e-cabinet on the police website; leaving a message through chat-bots in messengers (Telegram, Viber). In the statement, it is imperative to specify: the surname, name, patronymic of the abuser (if known), their age, date, time, location of the event, a detailed description of what occurred, witnesses (their contacts), available evidence (screenshots, photos, videos). The statement is registered in the Unified Record Journal, and the applicant is issued a notification slip with a registration number.

    

4. Fourth step — investigation. The police are obliged to initiate checks within a day. Depending on the severity of the act, an administrative proceeding is opened (a protocol on the administrative offense is drawn up) or a criminal proceeding (the information is entered into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations, URPI). The investigation period: for administrative cases — up to 15 days, for criminal cases — up to 2 months (with the possibility of extension).

    

5. Fifth step — court proceedings. After the investigation is completed, the materials are sent to court. The court assigns a hearing date, notifying all participants (the victim, the offender, witnesses, parents of the minor, police representative). Court proceedings take place openly (except in cases where disclosing information may traumatize the minor victim). The court listens to explanations from both sides, examines the evidence, and issues a decision (a ruling on the imposition of an administrative sanction or a verdict in a criminal case).

    

6. Sixth step — appeal and execution of the decision. The parties have the right to appeal the court's decision within 10 days to the appellate court, and then — within 30 days to the cassation court (Supreme Court). If the decision is not appealed, it becomes legally binding, and the punishment is executed (the offender pays the fine, serves community service, etc.). It is important to remember that the statute of limitations for bringing to administrative liability for bullying is 3 months from the day the offense was committed. If more than three months have passed, bringing the offender to administrative liability is no longer possible (except in criminal cases where the statute of limitations is longer — from 1 to 10 years depending on the severity of the crime). Therefore, it is advisable to contact the police as soon as possible, without waiting for the situation to resolve itself.

    

Although this procedure may seem complicated, it is necessary.

Bullying Prevention and Offense Prevention

The best way to combat bullying is to prevent it. Preventing offenses requires systematic work on several levels. The first level — family upbringing. Parents should instill respect for others in their child from an early age, explain the unacceptability of insults and violence, and teach them to resolve conflicts constructively. It is important not only to speak but also to set an example: if parents insult each other or colleagues, the child perceives this as normal. Parents should also monitor what games the child plays, what films they watch, and who they communicate with online. Aggressive content and scenes of violence in media increase the risk of aggressive behavior. The second level — school and educational prevention. As of 2026, a Typical Regulation on the Commission for Combating Bullying in Educational Institutions is in effect in Ukraine. Every school must have an action plan to prevent bullying, which includes conducting annual training for students on 'Stop Bullying'; developing and approving behavior rules that clearly outline the consequences of harassment; training teachers to identify signs of bullying and respond; organizing 'trust boxes' where students can report incidents of bullying anonymously; establishing mediation services where specially trained teachers or senior students help the parties resolve conflicts without punishment. Many schools implement programs for 'School Police Officers,' where a police officer visits the school, conducts lectures, and students can confidentially reach out to him.

The third level — legislative. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is continuously working to improve the legislation concerning bullying prevention. In particular, there are proposals to introduce mandatory behavior correction programs for underage bullies, expand the list of aggravating circumstances (for instance, bullying based on discrimination based on gender, race, religion, disability), and intensify the responsibility for cyberbullying (higher fines, account blocking). The fourth level — societal. NGOs, volunteer initiatives, and parent committees play an essential role in preventing bullying. They conduct information campaigns, hotlines for support, provide free psychological help to victims of bullying. Here are several simple prevention tips for everyone:

1. If you witness bullying, do not remain indifferent. Intervene if it is safe to do so, or call the police.
2. Support the victim. Say: 'I see that you are being treated unfairly. You do not deserve this treatment. I am here for you.'
3. Do not spread rumors and compromising information about others, even as a joke.
4. If you notice changes in your child's behavior (they become withdrawn, lose belongings, do not want to go to school), ask them about their relationships with peers. Do not dismiss their words, even if they seem sensitive to you.
5. Teach children responsible internet use: do not publish personal information, do not respond to insults, block bullies, save evidence.
6. If you are a teacher or leader, create a zero-tolerance atmosphere towards bullying. Do not ignore 'minor' cases — today the bully insults, tomorrow they may hit, and the day after, harm physically.
7. Implement programs for developing emotional intelligence and empathy skills. Children who can understand others' feelings are less likely to engage in bullying.

Remember: bullying is not 'a school of life' or 'character building.' It is trauma that can leave a mark for a lifetime. Preventing bullying is easier and cheaper (morally and financially) than treating its consequences later.