The Security Service, together with the National Police, prevented new attempts to illegally sell weapons and ammunition in four regions of Ukraine.

Among the items seized from the perpetrators were russian grenade launchers, Kalashnikov assault rifles, and improvised explosive devices.

In Kherson region, a 58-year-old resident of Beryslav district was caught red-handed trying to sell a captured RPG-26 anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade.

The individual kept the weapons at his home under the bed. The following items were also found during the search:

• RGO, RG-42, F-1, and RGD-5 grenade casings with fuses;
• five TNT blocks;
• over 200 rounds of ammunition of assorted calibers for automatic weapons.

The investigation established that the man had found the weapons at former enemy troop locations during the occupation of the right bank of the region.

In Chernihiv region, a 48-year-old local resident was detained for manufacturing improvised explosives and disguising them as fire extinguishers.

He set up an underground ‘workshop’ in his household. IEDs, explosives and other components for bombs were found during the search.

In Rivne region, an unemployed resident has been notified of suspicion of attempting to secretly sell an AK-47 assault rifle and two magazines for it. He had obtained the weapon through acquaintances in the frontline areas.

The perpetrator kept the arsenal for sale in a pit he had dug in a forest near his home. During the search, nine artillery shells and four combat grenades, one of which was for an underbarrel grenade launcher, were seized from the cache.

In Cherkasy region, a former serviceman was detained for attempting to secretly sell an AK-74 assault rifle with a magazine and silencer as well as over 50 rounds of 5.45 mm ammunition.

The detained perpetrators have been notified of suspicion under Article 263.1 of the CCU (illegal handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives).

The suspects face up to 7 years in prison.

The operational and investigative actions were carried out by the SSU Offices in Kherson, Chernihiv, Rivne and Cherkasy regions in cooperation with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor’s Offices.