- January 17, 2026
- 1:24 pm
- Ukraine
Ukraine has taken another step towards global humanitarian standards for animal treatment. The Verkhovna Rada has preliminarily supported a bill that expands the conceptual framework in the field of animal protection, introduces new norms of responsibility, and strengthens restrictions on the use of animals in public spaces — from advertising to entertainment.
This is not just about symbolic formulations. The document enshrines concepts such as “dog hunter,” “leaving an animal unattended,” “animal welfare,” and also supplements the basic principles of protection against cruelty. A separate clause prohibits the use of pets in advertising without proper conditions.
At the same time, Ukraine remains at an intermediate point. Currently, there is only a ban on mobile circuses at the national level. There is no full nationwide ban on the use of wild or domestic animals in circus performances, although public discussions and legislative attempts continue.
World Map of Bans
In many countries, this path has already been traversed. A full national ban on the use of both wild and domestic animals in circuses is in place in Greece, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Cyprus, and Malta. In Canada and Brazil, such restrictions have been introduced at the regional level.
The practice of banning wild animals is even more widespread. In more than fifty countries, circus shows without wild animals have become the norm. Among them are Austria, England, Belgium, Bulgaria, Armenia, Guatemala, Denmark, Israel, India, Ireland, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, France, Sweden, and Scotland. In the USA, Germany, Argentina, and Australia, local bans are in place at the state or regional level.
The use of domestic animals in circus performances is also banned in several countries, including Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Guatemala, Greece, Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, and Malta.
What Changes in Ukraine
Bill No. 11328, adopted on January 15, 2026, as a basis, proposes a more systematic approach. It enshrines norms directly related to the conditions of keeping animals. For example, keeping pets on a leash is allowed for no more than 12 consecutive hours, after which a walk of at least one hour is mandatory.
Keeping animals for scientific purposes is allowed — in enclosures, vivariums, or kennels, but only under strict conditions. The document also introduces educational programs on humane treatment of animals and emphasizes the responsibility of owners for their physical and psychological condition.
Definitions that were previously absent in legislation are separately prescribed. “Animal welfare” is interpreted as ensuring physiological and behavioral needs, excluding pain, fear, and suffering, including during slaughter. “Leaving an animal unattended” is qualified as an action or inaction of the owner leading to the helpless state of the animal. “Dog hunters” are defined as persons from 14 years old who intentionally destroy animals or call for it.
It is also proposed to prohibit the use of pets in advertising, exhibitions, and competitions if organizers have not provided safe conditions. Surgical operations not related to treatment are also banned: ear and tail docking, tooth and claw removal, and devocalization. Exceptions are only for medical indications by a veterinarian’s decision.
War Context and European Obligations
The explanatory note emphasizes that Ukraine ratified the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals back in 2013. Some of its norms were implemented, but the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation in 2022 created new challenges — from animal evacuation to access to shelters, where only in the third year of the war was it officially allowed to stay with pets.
Against this backdrop, the Ukrainian discussion about circuses with animals goes beyond culture or entertainment. It is a conversation about values, responsibility, and alignment with global standards already in place in EU countries and Israel.
Even During a Bloody War
It is separately emphasized that such norms are adopted not in a “calm” period. Ukraine is advancing animal protection laws in the conditions of a full-scale, bloody war, where the state daily addresses issues of survival, defense, and security. Nevertheless, humane treatment of animals is not excluded or postponed “for better times,” but is considered part of the basic values of society, which are preserved even under the pressure of war.
This is why the topic of banning the use of animals in circuses is perceived not as a private initiative of animal rights activists, but as part of a broader societal transformation, which is increasingly written about by NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency.
