The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police have prevented new attempts to illegally sell ‘trophy’ weapons and ammunition in several regions of Ukraine.

Nine dealers have been detained for trading in weapons that had been covertly brought from de-occupied areas and combat zones.

The items seized from them include russian grenade launchers, Kalashnikov assault rifles, explosives, and ammunition of different calibres.

In Bucha district, Kyiv region, two draft evaders were apprehended. They were separately hiding from mobilisation and planning to sell weapons clandestinely.

A batch of RGN combat grenades and ammunition for small arms were seized from one of the perpetrators, who was preparing to sell the munitions.

The other suspect stored guns, including TT pistols, along with domestically made ammunition.

The person involved in the explosion at the Ukrposhta sorting center in the capital has also been detained. In October, an explosion occurred during the inspection of a parcel, injuring five postal and customs employees.

The detainee is a 52-year-old Kyiv resident who was sending ammunition to a Ternopil resident, supposedly for ‘manufacture of souvenirs’. During the search of his home, the law enforcement seized grenades, ammunition, and grenade launcher rounds.

In Vinnytsia region, a local unemployed man was exposed for clandestine arms trade. He was looking for customers to sell hand-held anti-tank and underbarrel grenade launchers.

To disguise the transaction, the dealer promised to send the disassembled weapons to customers by mail as ‘household goods’.

In Kramatorsk district, Donetsk region, another five suspects were detained. Among them was a conscript who had gone AWOL from his military unit in the region.

The investigation established that the perpetrators, in two separate groups, transported the weapons from the front lines and then offered the ‘trophies’ on the black market.

Over half a kilogram of TNT, which the dealers had extracted from the ammunition for sale, was seized from them during the searches.

The detainees in all the cases have been notified of suspicion under Article 263.1 of the CCU – illegal handling of weapons and ammunition or explosives.

The suspects are in custody and face up to 7 years in prison.

The operations were carried out by the SSU regional offices jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor’s Offices.