The National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine has initiated amendments to legislation to impose penalties or criminal liability on Ukrainian artists who perform in Russia.

According to the regulator's statement on Thursday, the National Council has received appeals concerning performances of Ukrainian artists who are actively touring in the Russian Federation.

"In this situation, the National Council does not have any leverage on broadcasting organizations because the law does not say anything at all about this. In this case any restrictive action by the regulator will be appealed in court, and the chances of defending a position that can be understood from an ethical point of view, but without legal grounds, are zero. This situation can be resolved only on the legislative front," the regulator said.

The National Council believes that "legislators [the Verkhovna Rada] could consider and apply world practice to influence Ukrainian performers" who perform in a country recognized as an aggressor.

"This could involve penalties or criminal liability for them. Television and radio organizations could be required to limit the appearance of such artists or cultural figures, possibly for a certain period. This way, the national regulator would get real leverage on broadcasters," the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting said.

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister, Viacheslav Kyrylenko, also discussed Ukrainian artists' performance in Russia.

"As to 'our' guest artists in Russia. Indeed, the issue is mainly ethical, it cannot be banned. But if you go to Russia on a guest tour, 1) you report it, 2) you get put on a special register, 3) the words 'this artist does guest tours in an aggressor country' appear on television during performances or videos, 4) you pay extra military fees in Ukraine," he wrote on Twitter on Thursday.