Is Codeine legal in Ukraine?

Legal status

Controlled in Ukraine by name. Постанова № 770, таблиці I to IV, consolidated text read on 20 September 2026, prints «Кодеїн» at CAS 76-57-3 and record UKR-31 accepts that printed row; the heading is in sentence case here because the list prints in capitals. The question this row always raises is preparations, because codeine reaches travellers mostly as a low strength combination analgesic or a cough syrup rather than as the pure alkaloid. This source records the heading and does not reproduce any exempted preparation limb, any strength threshold or any table assignment, so nothing is asserted here about combination products. Treat the heading as established and the preparation question as unread rather than as answered in the traveller's favour.

Consequences if caught

Capital exposure: none. Ukrainian criminal law provides no death penalty. The trade article the source names is Кримінальний кодекс України, стаття 307, with a ceiling of twelve years of imprisonment at its third part and no life sentence in the article. Because the heading at CAS 76-57-3 is matched, наказ МОЗ № 188 supplies the small, large and especially large bands. For a combination tablet the live question is whether the band is applied to the codeine content or to the whole preparation, and this source answers neither, so no figure and no rule of calculation is stated in this cell. The source names no separate possession article. Separately from that, and carried forward from this site's published Ukraine entry rather than re-derived from the Code in this pass, the published penalties are these. Personal use of a small amount is administrative under article 44 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, a fine of 25 to 50 tax free minimum incomes, 20 to 60 hours of community service, or administrative arrest of up to 15 days. Above small, personal use under article 309 is criminal, a fine, correctional labour of up to two years, or restriction of liberty of up to five years, rising to up to three years where aggravated or large and up to eight years where a minor is involved. Trafficking or sale under article 307 draws four to twelve years with property forfeiture. Smuggling under article 305 draws five to eight years, and up to eight to ten years aggravated. The published entry records the small, large and especially large quantity thresholds as very low, and that trace amounts have triggered article 309. Drug use itself, other than in public, is not criminal there. Every figure in this paragraph is a penalty range or a fine and none of them is a quantity threshold. They describe the offences that this row's placement in the Ukrainian list brings into play.

If prescribed or medical

Ukraine allows no personal use quantity, наказ МОЗ № 188 grades criminal conduct rather than licensing carriage, and a scheduled medicine must additionally satisfy Закон України «Про лікарські засоби» on prescription, packaging, import and customs. On this row the placement is a matched heading at CAS 76-57-3. Many travellers carry codeine combinations bought without a prescription at home, and this source establishes no Ukrainian rule that recognises that, no import permit and no personal allowance. None was researched. A product that was sold over the counter elsewhere should not be assumed to be over the counter here.

Documentation

Carry the prescription even where the product was bought without one at home, together with the original pack showing the codeine content per unit, the pharmacy label in the patient's name where there is one, and a doctor's letter naming the active ingredients, the strength, the dose, the treatment period and the quantity carried. State the codeine content explicitly, because the Ukrainian heading at CAS 76-57-3 is written to the alkaloid and this source does not record any exempted preparation limb. Keep the quantity modest and declare it. Read on 20 September 2026.

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.