On the eve of local elections, the SBU jointly with the National Police exposed in Kryvyi Rih city organizers of an interregional group that sold weapons and ammunition.

The SBU established that the suspects were also members of a public association controlled by Russia.

According to preliminary investigation, two local residents were engaged in making combat starter pistols. They received it in bulk from their accomplices from different Ukranian regions, including Kharkiv city. To refurbish and store the ammunitions, the suspects used their own residences and a garage, where they arranged a workshop.

The offenders sold the ready goods in closed Internet groups and on specialized sites.

During the searches at the offenders’ residences and store rooms, the law enforcement officers seized 50 firearms, a large number of ammunition, spare parts for weapons, as well as grenades, silencers, special equipment and draft records proving illegal activity.

Law enforcement officers also found evidence on their participation in the so-called “Meetings of indigenous peoples of Russian land “Veche of Russia”, which promotes separatist ideas to the detriment of the territorial integrity of Ukraine. According to intelligence, foreign curators could have involved representatives of the association in extremist actions during the elections to local self-governments.

The suspects received notices of suspicion within the criminal proceedings initiated for unlawful handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives. The issue of choosing a type of detention is being settled.

The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime and bring to justice other persons involved in illegal activities.

The operation was conducted jointly with the Strategic Investigations Department and the investigators of the National Police under the legal supervision of the Dnipropetrovsk Region Prosecutor's Office.