The SSU, the State Bureau of Investigation and the National Police have uncovered four channels for the illegal sale of weapons in Ukraine
The Security Service of Ukraine, the State Bureau of Investigation and the National Police have dismantled a further four networks involved in the illicit sale of captured weapons, ammunition and explosives in various regions of Ukraine.
Following a series of coordinated operations, 11 organisers of these illegal schemes were arrested. Among them were a former chemistry student, an IT specialist and a member of the armed forces who, according to the investigation, were involved in the illegal sale of weapons.
During searches of the suspects’ premises, over 45 kilograms of explosives, 15 Kalashnikov assault rifles, two grenade launchers, RGD-5 and F-1 combat grenades, as well as nearly 10,000 rounds of ammunition of various calibres were seized.
In the Kyiv region, law enforcement officers detained two law enforcement officers from the Chernihiv region whilst they were attempting to sell an AK-74 assault rifle and 60 rounds of ammunition for it. In addition, they were attempting to sell nearly 4,000 rounds of ammunition for other types of small arms.
The investigation established that the officers had travelled to the Kyiv region to sell weapons that had previously been seized as part of another criminal case and were being held as material evidence.
In Kharkiv, law enforcement officers dismantled an underground workshop producing homemade explosives. According to the investigation, it was organised by a local resident together with his wife, a graduate of the Faculty of Chemistry at Kharkiv University.
They recruited three further accomplices to take part in the illegal activity, including an IT specialist who offered ready-made explosives on the dark web.
The suspects set up a laboratory in a rented premises in the centre of Kharkiv, where they synthesised chemicals for subsequent sale.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, three people were caught attempting to sell an AKM assault rifle and around 300 rounds of ammunition for it. To avoid detection, they buried the weapons and ammunition on the grounds of an abandoned property and passed the address of the hiding place to the buyer via a concealed number.
In the Donetsk region, a contract soldier was placed under suspicion after being detained in Kramatorsk whilst attempting to sell 13 AK-74 assault rifles and 300 rounds of ammunition for a grenade launcher.
All those detained have been charged under several sections of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, in particular for the unlawful handling of weapons, ammunition or explosive substances, as well as for the unlawful manufacture of explosive substances or explosive devices.
The suspects face up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
