In Chernihiv region, the SBU exposed an underground workshop for production, processing and repair of firearms.

The officers established that a resident of Nizhyn district arranged the illegal workshop on the territory of his private house. The offender, having the special knowledge, illegally repaired and refurbished unregistered firearms. Among his clients were also criminals. He searched for clients via the Internet and personal relations.

During the search at the offender’s residence and workshop, the law enforcement officers seized Kalashnikov assault rifle, 2 Makarov and Marholin pistols, 4 unregistered rifled carbines, 8 smooth-bore weapons of various calibre, and almost 2 kilograms of gunpowder. The officers exposed silencers, thermal weapon and optical sighs, 46 magazines for Kalashnikov assault rifles and pistols, component parts for munitions, a large number of component parts for small arms, and special equipment for the weapon production, processing and repair.

The SBU officers detained the offender under Art. 208 of the Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine.

The seized munitions were sent for the examination.

The investigation is ongoing within the criminal proceedings initiated for unlawful handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives in order to identify all people involved in illegal activities and to bring them to justice. The issue of serving a notice of suspicion to the detainee and choosing the type of detention is being settled.

Information concerning smuggling of the seized weapons and ammo from the JFO area is being checked.

The operation was conducted jointly with the National Police investigators under the procedural supervision of the Military Prosecutor's Office of Desnianskyi Garrison.