New regulations for civilian firearms are being drawn up in Ukraine
This was announced by Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko.
Expert consultations on the legislative regulation of civilian firearms took place in Ukraine.
They were attended by members of parliament, as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Police, the Security Service of Ukraine and the State Bureau of Investigation.
Representatives from the Office of the President, civil society organisations, and the military, veterans’, legal and media communities also joined the consultations.
Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko stated that firearms in Ukraine have already been legalised.
According to him, certain types of firearms can currently be purchased by citizens who meet the established criteria.
At the same time, the rules governing their circulation need updating.
“Firearms are legal in Ukraine. Certain types can currently be purchased by those who meet the established criteria. At the same time, the rules governing their circulation require modernisation and clear regulation exclusively at the level of the law. And this is a complex issue that we must resolve in accordance with the President of Ukraine’s instructions,” said Klymenko.
According to the minister, the discussion concerns several key areas.
This concerns the right to self-defence.
The classification of permitted types of weapons is also being discussed.
A separate issue is the grounds for the use of firearms by civilians.
Furthermore, mechanisms must be established for the confiscation of weapons in cases of threatening behaviour or domestic violence.
Klymenko also emphasised the need to develop infrastructure for theoretical and practical training in the handling of weapons.
According to him, the business sector must be involved in this process.
The Minister stressed that gun ownership is not just a right, but above all a responsibility.
It must be backed up by strict checks.
“A weapon is not just a right. First and foremost, it is a responsibility. And it must be backed up by strict checks. Filters that people with mental health issues, addictions, or a criminal record cannot pass through, even if the case did not reach court,” the statement reads.
Following the consultations, participants agreed that a law on the circulation of civilian firearms in Ukraine is necessary.
Such a law is needed by both citizens and law enforcement agencies.
Klymenko also noted that this is one of Ukraine’s European integration commitments.
Discussions on regulating the circulation of civilian firearms are set to continue in the near future.
Background
Seven civilians were killed in the shooting.
A further fourteen people were injured.
After the shooting, the man took hostages in a supermarket.
After approximately 40 minutes of negotiations, the perpetrator was neutralised by KORD officers.
The incident was classified as terrorism.
Following this tragedy, debate in Ukraine intensified regarding the appropriateness of regulating civilian firearms for self-defence.
As reported by ThePublic, as of 1 April 2026, there were 812,000 officially registered owners of firearms and special equipment in Ukraine, possessing a total of 1,166,001 firearms. Against this backdrop, the public debate on the right to bear arms has intensified once more following the shooting in Kyiv, and new data from the National Police has revealed just how much the official picture has changed in recent years.
Follow us on Telegram
