The National Police together with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have discovered four individuals orchestrating the unlawful trading of “captured” weaponry in different areas of Ukraine. Confiscated from them were Soviet and Russian-made Kalashnikov rifles, a grenade-launching device, precision rifles, and nearly 2 kilograms of explosive materials.
The National Police alongside the Security Service of Ukraine have revealed four masterminds behind the illicit trade of “trophy” arms across various Ukrainian territories. Seized from them were Soviet and Russian-manufactured Kalashnikov-type automatic rifles, a grenade projector, marksman rifles and close to 2 kg of explosives, along with enhancement modules for firearms. UNN communicates this information referring to the SBU.
Details
The ensuing items were located and taken from all the accused:
- Soviet and Russian-produced Kalashnikov pattern automatic guns (AK-74 and AK-12) with a dimension of 5.45 mm;
- sound suppressors, lasers, aiming devices and tactical handguards for automatic guns;
- Saiga-12 hunting guns, based on the AK blueprint (12 gauge);
- Dragunov designated marksman rifle (SVD) with a measurement of 7.62×54 mm R;
- Mosin sharpshooter rifle model 1891/1930 in the 7.62 mm dimension, frequently known as the “Mosinka” or “three-line rifle”;
- Soviet MON-90 mines, with a blast radius reaching 90 meters;
- automatic 30 mm AGS grenade-firing system;
- nearly 2 kg of explosive substances, detonating mechanisms and ammunition for firearms.
In Kyiv, legal authorities apprehended a 57-year-old repeated offender with a history of serving imprisonment for murder, who then reverted to the clandestine arms dealing business post-release.
He drew a 65-year-old associate into his illicit undertaking. In unison, they established a route for smuggling “trophied” armaments from the battle zones of eastern Ukraine into the heart of the capital.
Subsequently, the offenders stockpiled the weaponry within a private residence’s foundation to facilitate transactions. During the operation, 56 compact firearms, exceeding 5,500 pieces of ammunition, alongside a 30-mm automatic grenade thrower, were secured from those taken into custody. Furthermore, in the Solomyansky area within the capital, a vendor was exposed for hoarding 15 Kalashnikov auto-rifles designated for sale in a leased apartment and his personal vehicle.
– the SBU declaration indicates.
A 54-year-old vehicle repairman in the Dnipropetrovsk vicinity was seized, responsible for setting up a hidden stockpile in his own domicile for keeping plastid and TNT accompanied by detonators, in addition to containers of ammunition.
He sought out potential purchasers via digital messaging platforms to circulate his concealed stockpile – ultimately prompting his detention by the enforcers of the law.
Each individual taken into custody was duly informed of the charges against them as per Part 1 of Article 263 within the Criminal Code of Ukraine (unauthorized management of weaponry, ordnance, or explosives). The culprits could face incarceration for up to 7 years. All arms seized will be reallocated to assist the Defense Forces on the front lines.
– conveyed the SBU.
We will remind you
Back on February 11, the SBU including police forces apprehended 7 individuals dispersed throughout four regions of Ukraine for attempting to unlawfully market arms. Recovered items spanned Kalashnikov assault-style rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, together with related ordnance.