Over the week, the National Police of Ukraine, together with prosecutors, explosives experts, and the military law enforcement service, conducted large-scale operations across the country. The result was the discovery of ten illegal caches of firearms and ammunition – from assault rifles and grenade launchers to plastic explosives, artillery shells, and anti-personnel mines. The defendants are charged with illegal storage, sale, and handling of weapons.
Where the caches were found and what was seized
Illegal arsenals were discovered in both front-line and relatively rear regions: in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, as well as in Kirovohrad, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, and Chernivtsi Oblasts. In total, law enforcement officers conducted over 155 searches and confiscated almost 500 dangerous items.
Detailed breakdown of what was seized:
65 units of small arms
283 grenade launchers, grenades, and mines
over 17 thousand rounds of various calibers
11.4 kg of explosives
133 magazines and weapon components
Scale and consequences
According to law enforcement officers, some caches contained such a volume of weaponry that it would be sufficient for conducting full-scale combat operations. This indicates a systemic, rather than isolated, nature of illegal arms trafficking.
Following the investigative actions, 17 individuals were notified of suspicion. The sanctions of the articles under which the investigation is being conducted provide for imprisonment for up to seven years.
Criminal proceedings have been initiated under Art. 263 and Art. 263-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – illegal handling of weapons, ammunition, or explosives.
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