The Security Service, together with the National Police, prevented attempts to sell weapons to representatives of criminal circles in the frontline areas of Donetsk and Kharkiv regions.
As a result of comprehensive measures, 5 individuals who were clandestinely trading trophy weapons and ammunition have been arrested.
Among the items confiscated from the defendants were Russian AK-12 rifles, sniper rifles, anti-tank grenade launchers, and explosives.
In Donetsk region:
A criminal group, consisting of four residents of Dnipropetrovsk region, was neutralized. The criminals were engaged in selling combat weapons seized from former conflict zones near the front line.
SSU operatives apprehended the suspects "in the act" during the sale of two RPG-22 reactive anti-tank grenades.
Additionally, during searches of the gang members' residences, a cache of combat grenades, Kalashnikov rifles, and grenade launchers was seized.
Based on the materials of the Security Service, the detainees have already been informed of suspicion under Article 263 Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal handling of weapons, ammunition, or explosives, committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy).
In Kharkiv region:
On the territory of a private residence, the military counterintelligence of the SSU discovered a large cache of weapons and ammunition. Also found there was an underground workshop for the repair and restoration of damaged weapons.
According to the investigation, the owner of the residence, a driver of a local military unit, organized the hidden "workshop." He planned to sell the repaired weapons on the darknet, where potential clients were representatives of criminal circles.
During the search at the suspect's home, the following items were seized:
- 3 kg of plastid;
- Over 100 combat grenades;
- 10 anti-tank, mortar, and anti-personnel mines;
- Kalashnikov handheld machine gun;
- Dragunov sniper rifle;
- 2 Metis anti-tank missile systems;
- Reactive infantry flamethrower;
- Over 10,000 rounds of various calibers.
Investigations into the uncovered facts are ongoing to hold the guilty parties accountable.
All confiscated weapons and ammunition will be transferred for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
