In 2025, Ukraine recorded an unprecedented surge in criminal proceedings for animal cruelty – 386 cases were opened in the first five months of the year. This is almost four times more than in the same period last year. This data was released by the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine. The biggest jump occurred in April, when more than 200 new proceedings were recorded – more than in the whole of 2024.
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According to Anastasiia Hevchuk, a lawyer and analyst at UAnimals, the increase in statistics is more an indicator of a decrease in indifference in society than an increase in cruelty. People are more likely to report cases of violence against animals, in part due to awareness campaigns, available application templates, and support from animal rights organisations.
The number of cases has increased, while the quality of investigations has also improved. Previously, suspicions were served in one in five cases, while now they are served in eight out of ten. However, only 4% of the proceedings went to court, as the system cannot process new cases as quickly as the number of appeals.
The courts have already handed down 20 verdicts. In several cases, the perpetrators received real prison sentences, including five years for killing a dog in Lviv region. However, there are also less severe sentences, such as suspended sentences or fines.
According to experts, the current situation is a direct result of the active work of the previous year – the introduction of digital tools for recording crimes, training of law enforcement officers and an information campaign. In February 2025, a specialised training for the police was also held, which, according to UAnimals, increased the effectiveness of responding to such offences.
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