The SSU has prevented unlawful sale of weapons in three regions of Ukraine. As a result of operations in Kyiv, Mykolaiv and Lviv oblasts, six organizers of arms trafficking were detained.

They tried to sell military munitions found in the de-occupied regions of Ukraine to criminals.

The seized items include russian grenade launchers, Kalashnikov rifles and over 20,000 rounds of ammunition.

In Lviv region:

The SSU internal security unit uncovered two heads of a local charity fund who were selling weapons clandestinely.

According to the investigation, one of them drove to former battlefields to collect weapons under the pretext of ‘volunteer trips’.

He handed over the ‘trophies’ he found to his accomplice, who kept them in a cache in his attic.

The individuals then tried to sell the weapons to local criminals, offering AK-74 and AKS-74 assault rifles for USD 500 per item.

The following were seized during the searches:

• an RPG-26 grenade launcher;
• six AK-74 and AKS-74 assault rifles;
• MON-50 anti-personnel mine;
• RGD-5 and F-1 grenades;
• tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition for small arms.

In Kyiv region:

A local businessman was detained ‘red-handed’ while trying to sell a military arsenal, which included over 20 fragmentation grenades and hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers.

After the detention, searches were conducted in the suspect’s garage, where a Kalashnikov rifle and more than 1,500 rounds of ammunition of assorted caliber were found.

According to the investigation, he collected these weapons in local settlements that had been under occupation at the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion.

In Mykolaiv region:

The SSU exposed three dealers who sold trophy weapons and ammunition found at the former russian combat positions.

To store the items, they set up a cache in a forest near the city. During its inspection, the investigators found combat grenades and a batch of firearms ammunition.

The investigations are ongoing.

All seized weapons and ammunition will be handed over to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The operations were carried out jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of regional prosecutors.