Is Cocaine legal in Ukraine?

Legal status

Controlled under the Criminal Code (Arts 307/309) — personal-use small amount administrative (Art 44 CAO), above 'small' criminal (Art 309); trafficking (Art 307) 4–12 years; MoH-188 small-quantity thresholds very low (no specific figure stated; no fixed statutory quantity asserted); no death penalty (abolished 2000)

Consequences if caught

Cocaine is a controlled drug in Ukraine. Ukraine (death penalty abolished 2000) handles drugs under the Criminal Code (Arts 305/307/309/310), the Code of Administrative Offenses (Art 44) and Ministry of Health Order No. 188, whose small/large/especially-large quantity thresholds are very low (trace amounts have triggered Art 309). Drug use itself (other than in public) is not criminal. A personal-use small amount (Art 44 of the Code of Administrative Offenses) is administrative — a fine of 25–50 tax-free minimum incomes, 20–60 hours of community service, or administrative arrest up to 15 days. Above 'small', personal use (Art 309) is criminal (a fine, correctional labour up to 2 years, or restriction of liberty up to 5 years; aggravated or large up to 3 years; involving minors up to 8 years). Trafficking or sale (Art 307) draws 4–12 years plus property forfeiture; smuggling (Art 305) 5–8 years (up to 8–10 years aggravated). The cited facts do not give a specific small-quantity figure for Cocaine (the MoH Order No. 188 thresholds are reported very low) — no fixed statutory quantity is asserted here.

If prescribed or medical

Not a prescribed traveller medicine in this form.

Documentation

Ukraine abolished the death penalty in 2000 (a Council of Europe condition); the framework is the Criminal Code (Arts 305/307/309/310), the Code of Administrative Offenses (Art 44), and Ministry of Health Order No. 188 (2000, as amended), which defines small, large and especially-large quantities — and these thresholds are very low (trace amounts have triggered Art 309). Drug use itself (other than in public) is not criminal. A personal-use small amount (Art 44 of the Code of Administrative Offenses) is an administrative matter: a fine of 25–50 tax-free minimum incomes, 20–60 hours of community service, or administrative arrest up to 15 days. Above 'small', personal use (Art 309) is criminal: a fine, correctional labour up to 2 years, or restriction of liberty up to 5 years; aggravated or large up to 3 years; involving minors up to 8 years. Trafficking or sale (Art 307) draws 4–12 years plus property forfeiture; smuggling (Art 305) 5–8 years, up to 8–10 years aggravated. For cannabis, the administrative-versus-criminal line is 5 grams (above 5 g is criminal under Art 309); cultivation of 10 or fewer cannabis plants without intent to sell is effectively decriminalized or fined, while Art 310 makes 100–500 opium-poppy plants or 10–50 cannabis plants criminal. The 2023 Law on Medical Cannabis legalized regulated MEDICAL cannabis only (drops, capsules, pastes, gels) and did NOT change the recreational criminal framework. Carry any controlled medicine with its prescription and confirm requirements with your embassy before travel.

Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Ukraine’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.