The Security Service, together with the State Bureau of Investigation and the National Police, apprehended six dealers who were trying to set up illegal arms trade in four Ukrainian regions.

Among the items seized from the perpetrators are russian automatic weapons, sniper rifles, grenade launchers and explosives.

Two traffickers were detained in Kyiv region: they were transporting weapons from former battle sites in Kyiv region and were looking for customers in criminal circles.

In Dnipro, the SSU and the State Bureau of Investigation detained a local law enforcement officer who, through his connections in the frontline areas, transported trophy weapons to Dnipro.

An acquaintance of the official then sent the disassembled weapons to clients by post, disguised as parcels containing household appliances.

In Zhytomyr oblast, another dealer was detained after he had transported a russian-made sniper rifle from combat zone on Kharkiv direction. The man hid it in a cache in a forest and attempted to sell it.

In Zakarpattia, a 45-year-old resident of Mukachevo district was apprehended for trading in weapons. He set up a cache with explosives and grenade launchers in a forest and was looking for buyers.

The detained individuals have been notified of suspicion under Article 263.1 of the CCU (illegal handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives).

The suspects are in custody without bail and face up to 7 years in prison.

The operations were carried out by the SSU Offices in Kyiv and Kyiv region, in Khmelnytskyi, Zhytomyr and Zakarpattia regions, together with the National Police, under the procedural supervision of Prosecutor’s Offices.