On Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day, Zelensky criminalizes antisemitism in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a law introducing criminal penalties for antisemitism in Ukraine, including prison sentences of up to eight years.

The legislation, known as Law No. 2037-IX, incorporates antisemitic offenses directly into Ukraine’s criminal code for the first time. Previous legislation, adopted in 2021, defined antisemitism but did not establish specific punishments.

The law was signed on Tuesday, Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day, by Zelensky, who is Jewish himself. The legislation was overwhelmingly supported by the country’s parliament, according to local media.

Under the new law, acts such as incitement to hatred, discrimination, or restricting rights on the basis of antisemitism can result in fines, limits on liberty, or prison terms of up to three years. Sentences increase to as much as five years if aggravating factors are present, including violence, threats, deception, or abuse of official authority.

In the most serious cases — including crimes committed by organized groups or those causing significant harm — offenders could face between five and eight years in prison. Courts may also bar convicted individuals from holding certain positions.

An estimated 45,000 Jews live in Ukraine, out of a total population of some 40 million. The rate of antisemitic incidents has been lower than in other countries since Hamas launched its war with Israel on October 7, 2023, but strong antisemitic attitudes still exist within parts of the population. Zelensky’s leadership is widely seen as a factor helping to normalize Jewish identity in public life.

Ukraine has a long and complex history with antisemitism, including frequent pogroms in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Its most infamous atrocity against its Jewish population occurred during the Holocaust at Babi Yar, a ravine in Kyiv where Nazi forces, aided by local collaborators, murdered more than 33,000 Jews over two days in September 1941.

The country’s chief rabbi, Moshe Azman, welcomed the new legislation.

“This is an important and timely step. Ukraine is sending a clear message: hatred, discrimination and incitement to violence have no place in Ukrainian society and never will,” he posted on X. “Especially now, during wartime, when Russia is trying to destabilize Ukraine from within, including by using those who seek to sow discord.”

“A strong state is one where the dignity of every person is respected. And today, Ukraine is confidently moving in this direction!” he added.

The United Jewish Community of Ukraine also welcomed the measure, calling it an important step in combating antisemitism and strengthening legal protections for the country’s Jewish community.