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Author: Vitalii Petryk, attorney
Key points
After the start of the full-scale aggression, the concept of collaboration entered Ukrainian criminal law and at the same time raised many questions. The line between expressing a position, forced behavior under occupation and a crime can be thin, and the consequences very serious. In this article we explain what exactly is punishable under Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code, what punishments are provided and how this article differs from related ones, as of 2026.
Collaboration activity is voluntary cooperation with the aggressor state, its occupation administration or illegal armed formations to the detriment of Ukraine. Liability for it is established by Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code, introduced by law in March 2022 in response to the occupation of part of the territory.
The key feature is voluntariness. The article is aimed against a conscious and free choice to cooperate with the enemy, not against acts committed under coercion or for survival. So in every case it is fundamentally important to establish whether the activity was voluntary and what exactly it consisted of. It is around these circumstances that both the prosecution and the defense are most often built.
Article 111-1 consists of several parts covering forms of varying gravity. They include, in particular:
The list of forms is broad, and the boundaries between them are not always obvious in practice. So correctly establishing which particular part of the article a person’s actions fall under is the first and decisive question in a case.
Punishments under Article 111-1 differ substantially depending on the form of activity and increase from the least to the most serious. For less dangerous forms, for example public denial of the aggression or calls to support the actions of the aggressor state, the main punishment is deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activity, and community service or a fine are also possible.
For graver forms, in particular voluntarily taking authority positions in the occupation administration, economic cooperation with the enemy or organizing the relevant events, stricter sanctions are provided, up to imprisonment. The gravest forms, such as voluntary participation in illegal armed formations of the aggressor state and assistance in conducting combat operations against Ukraine, are punishable by long-term imprisonment, and under a number of parts, with confiscation of property and deprivation of the right to hold certain positions. Many offenses also provide for an additional punishment of deprivation of the right to hold positions for up to fifteen years. Given such a range, the exact classification and possible punishment should be assessed individually together with a lawyer.
In practice, Article 111-1 is often confused with high treason (Article 111) and aiding the aggressor state (Article 111-2), although these are different offenses. High treason is an intentional act by a citizen of Ukraine to the detriment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, defense capability or security of the state: going over to the enemy’s side under martial law, espionage, providing a foreign state with assistance in carrying out subversive activity. It is one of the gravest crimes against the foundations of national security.
Aiding the aggressor state under Article 111-2 is intentional acts to support the aggressor, in particular implementing or supporting its decisions and transferring resources, where such acts are not covered by Articles 111 or 111-1. Collaboration, by contrast, emphasizes voluntary cooperation in the occupied territories and in the public sphere. Since the sanctions and consequences of these articles differ, an unjustifiably stricter classification directly violates a person’s rights, and that is exactly why the defense’s work on classification is critical.
The pretrial investigation of collaboration activity is mostly carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine, and procedural supervision is exercised by the prosecutor’s office. Evidence in such cases often includes social media publications and posts, video and photo materials, witness testimony, documents of the occupation administration, and data on holding positions or receiving payments.
The problem is that such evidence is often ambiguous: a post could be taken out of context, a position could be formal, and being in the territory could be forced. So the defense focuses on checking voluntariness, the true content of the actions and the relevance and admissibility of the evidence. Hasty admissions or explanations without a lawyer are especially dangerous in such cases, because they are then very hard to refute.
The defense strategy is always individual but rests on several pillars. The first is a careful analysis of the classification: whether the part of the article is chosen correctly and whether it is not in fact a related or absent offense. The second is proving the absence of voluntariness, for example acts under coercion, threat or in a state of extreme necessity. The third is checking the evidence for admissibility and the completeness of the examination of the context.
Since such cases have public resonance and high pressure, it is all the more important that a person’s interests be consistently defended by an experienced criminal defense lawyer. If you or someone close to you has faced a suspicion of collaboration, do not give explanations without a defense lawyer and seek legal assistance in criminal cases as early as possible. On how to act immediately after a suspicion is served, we explain in a separate material on the first steps when suspected of committing a crime.
No. These are different articles of the Criminal Code with different features and sanctions. High treason under Article 111 concerns acts to the detriment of national security, such as going over to the enemy’s side or espionage. Collaboration under Article 111-1 concerns voluntary cooperation with the aggressor and the occupation authorities. Correct differentiation directly affects the punishment.
Yes, public denial of the armed aggression and public calls to support the decisions or actions of the aggressor state are one of the forms of collaboration activity. At the same time, the context and content of the statement matter, so every situation requires a separate legal assessment.
The key feature of collaboration is voluntariness. Acts committed under coercion, under a threat to life or for survival may exclude liability or affect the classification. However, this needs to be proven, and that is exactly where a lawyer is needed.
The range is broad: from deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activity for less serious forms to long-term imprisonment with confiscation of property for the gravest, in particular participation in the aggressor’s armed formations. The specific punishment depends on the part of the article and the circumstances of the case.
Such cases are mostly investigated by the Security Service of Ukraine under the procedural supervision of the prosecutor’s office. Evidence often includes publications, documents and testimony, so the defense’s work on checking their admissibility is very important.
Do not advise them to give explanations without a lawyer and engage a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. An early analysis of the classification and evidence gives far more opportunities than trying to justify oneself alone under the pressure of the investigation.
Yes. If the actions are classified under a stricter part or article than they actually are, the defense has the right to contest it. Reclassification to a less serious offense or proving the absence of a crime is one of the main directions of a lawyer’s work.
It may, but any decision on interacting with the investigation should be made only together with a lawyer. Ill-considered admissions can do harm, whereas a balanced legal position can significantly improve the situation.
Vitalii Petryk, Partner, Lexon Law Firm. Managing Partner of Lexon Law Firm. Specializes in criminal, civil and commercial law and in court disputes, and handles complex cases from the pretrial investigation to court. Criminal Law. July 17, 2026.
Disclaimer. This material is of an informational and general educational nature as of July 2026 and is not legal advice, legal assistance or advertising within the meaning of the Rules of Attorney Ethics. Reading the article does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every situation is unique, so for your case please seek a personal consultation with a Lexon lawyer.
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