Art. 185 CCU: theft in plain language
Article 185 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine defines theft as the secret taking of another person’s property. The article has five parts. The first describes theft itself. The other parts describe the circumstances in which the law sets a heavier penalty: a repeat offence or a group in prior conspiracy; breaking into a home, other premises or storage, or significant damage to the victim; a large scale, or martial law or a state of emergency; an especially large scale or an organised group.
The note to the article explains these words. An offence is a repeat offence when the person earlier committed an offence under Articles 185, 186, 187, 189, 190, 191 or 262. Significant damage means a loss of 100 to 250 tax-free minimum incomes (NTMI), taking into account the victim’s financial situation. A large scale is an amount 250 or more times the NTMI at the time of the offence; an especially large scale is 600 or more times.
Below is what the law provides for each part of the article. The text follows the official edition of the Code of 18 September 2026.
What the law says: Part 1
The law provides for a fine of 1,000 to 3,000 tax-free minimum incomes (NTMI), community service of 80 to 240 hours, correctional labour for up to 2 years, probation supervision for up to 5 years, or restriction of liberty for the same term.
What the law says: Part 2
The law provides for probation supervision from 3 to 5 years, restriction of liberty for up to 5 years, or imprisonment for the same term.
What the law says: Part 3
The law provides for imprisonment from 3 to 6 years.
What the law says: Part 4
The law provides for imprisonment from 5 to 8 years.
What the law says: Part 5
The law provides for imprisonment from 7 to 12 years with confiscation of property.