Combating
antisemitism
in Ukraine

What is antisemitism?

Under Law of Ukraine No. 1770-IX, antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed towards Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

The law also identifies the main manifestations of antisemitism. These include:

• denying the right of people of Jewish origin to self-identification;
• calls to kill or harm people of Jewish origin, or concealment or justification of such acts;
• spreading false information and hateful or inflammatory statements about people of Jewish origin;
• publicly holding Jews collectively responsible for real or imagined offences committed by an individual or a group;
• intolerance towards people of non-Jewish origin who are perceived as Jews;
• calls for antisemitism.

The Ukrainian definition is based on the international approach to understanding antisemitism. On 26 May 2016, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) adopted a working definition of antisemitism and a list of examples of its contemporary manifestations. The IHRA definition is a working definition and is not legally binding. In 2017, the European Parliament endorsed this definition.

The IHRA list is broader than the list directly set out in Law of Ukraine No. 1770-IX. In particular, taking the overall context into account, IHRA identifies the following as possible manifestations of antisemitism:

• denying the fact, scope, mechanisms or intentionality of the Holocaust;
• accusing Jews as a people or the State of Israel of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust;
• accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel or to the interests of Jews worldwide than to their own country;
• denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination;
• applying double standards by requiring Israel to meet expectations not imposed on other democratic states;
• using images and symbols of classical antisemitism to characterise Israel or Israelis;
• comparing contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis;
• holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the State of Israel.

Antisemitism in Ukrainian law

Protection against discrimination in Ukraine is grounded in the Constitution. Article 24 establishes equality before the law and prohibits privileges or restrictions based, among other grounds, on race, ethnic origin and religious beliefs.

Before the adoption of specific legislation on antisemitism, its manifestations were addressed in criminal law primarily under Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. It establishes liability for intentional acts aimed at inciting national, racial or religious enmity and hatred, degrading national honour and dignity, and directly or indirectly restricting citizens’ rights on those grounds.

In 2020, the United Jewish Community of Ukraine proposed a dedicated law to define antisemitism and establish a legal framework for combating it.

This initiative led to the introduction of Bill No. 5109, “On Preventing and Combating Antisemitism in Ukraine”, in Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada. The bill was authored by Ukrainian MP Maksym Buzhanskyi and co-authored by another 49 MPs.

On 22 September 2021, the Verkhovna Rada passed the bill, with 283 MPs voting in favour. On 7 October 2021, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Law No. 1770-IX, “On Preventing and Combating Antisemitism in Ukraine”.

For the first time, the law enshrined a definition of antisemitism in legislation, listed its manifestations and expressly prohibited antisemitism in Ukraine.

Alongside Bill No. 5109, Bill No. 5110 was prepared and registered: “On Amendments to Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine to Implement the Provisions of the Law of Ukraine ‘On Preventing and Combating Antisemitism in Ukraine’”.

The bill aimed to add an explicit reference to antisemitism to criminal legislation. On 15 February 2022, the Verkhovna Rada passed it at its second and final reading. It became Law No. 2037-IX.

Law No. 2037-IX added the words “manifestations of antisemitism” to Part 1 of Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This explicitly brought antisemitism within the provision establishing liability for incitement to enmity and hatred, degradation of national honour and dignity, and other discriminatory acts.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the law on 14 April 2026, and it entered into force on 15 April 2026.

Since April 2026, antisemitism in Ukraine has had both a separate statutory definition and an express prohibition under Law No. 1770-IX, as well as an explicit reference in Article 161 of the Criminal Code. This provides a direct basis for classifying the relevant acts as manifestations of antisemitism under criminal law.