The police have seized over 1,000 weapons and rounds of ammunition in various regions of Ukraine
Officers from the National Police’s Department of Strategic Investigations, together with regional police investigation units and other law enforcement agencies, carried out operations targeting the illegal trafficking of weapons, ammunition and explosives.
Over the course of a week, law enforcement officers carried out more than 180 searches in various regions of Ukraine. As a result, 32 people were notified of suspicion regarding the illegal handling of weapons, including their storage and sale.
In total, 20 caches containing firearms and ammunition were discovered. These were found both in frontline regions and in the west of the country, specifically in the Volyn, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi and Chernihiv regions.
Some of the caches contained combat kits, including automatic rifles, grenade launchers, anti-personnel mines, plastic explosives, artillery shells and other explosive devices.
Over the course of the week, law enforcement officers seized 154 small arms, 904 grenade launchers, grenades and mines, over 56,500 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, nearly 80 kg of explosives, as well as 134 magazines and components for firearms.
Criminal proceedings are being investigated under Article 263 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This concerns the unlawful handling of weapons, ammunition or explosive substances.
The penalty under this article provides for up to seven years’ imprisonment.
In accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven in accordance with the law and established by a court conviction.
