From AK-12 assault rifles to attack drones: law enforcement officers dismantled seven weapons distribution channels

The Security Service of Ukraine, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the National Police have blocked seven more channels for the illegal sale of weapons and ammunition in various regions of Ukraine.

This was reported to the SBU.

As a result of comprehensive measures, law enforcement officers eliminated seven underground channels for the sale of lethal weapons and detained the organizers of illegal transactions.

The seized arsenal includes over a ton of explosives, strike drones, grenade launchers, Kalashnikov assault rifles, including the latest Russian AK-12s, combat grenades, and ammunition of various calibers.

A resident of Mykolaiv region was detained in Kyiv “red-handed” after arriving in the capital to sell a batch of “trophy” weapons illegally taken from the combat zone. He used his friend’s garage in Kramatorsk to store them.

In Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, law enforcement officers have liquidated a criminal group that included three local residents. According to the investigation, they were selling weapons and ammunition illegally exported from frontline areas. During the searches, 10 kg of explosives, improvised explosive devices, jet flamethrowers, grenade launcher rounds, mines, and cartridges were seized.

In the Donetsk region, a commander of an engineering and sapper company was detained for trying to sell two decommissioned hexacopters, machine guns, and an AGS-17 “Pol’mya” automatic grenade launcher. Explosives were also found in the garage he rented.

A serviceman who had been missing since February 2025 was discovered in Vinnytsia Oblast . According to investigators, he organized the illegal sale of “trophied” weapons. In the cache, law enforcement officers found an AK-74 assault rifle, a hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher, three anti-personnel mines, seven grenades, five TNT bombs, and almost 200 grams of plastid.

A repeat offender was also detained in the region, who was trying to sell weapons secretly taken out of the fighting area.

In Sumy region , a resident of Okhtyrsky district was caught illegally selling weapons smuggled from the front line. During searches, a PKP machine gun, more than two dozen live grenades, seven grenade launcher rounds, and an anti-personnel mine were seized from him.

A local resident was detained in Kherson who was trying to sell an AKS-74U assault rifle with a loaded magazine and ammunition. According to investigators, this weapon was stolen during the temporary occupation of the city.

The suspects have now been charged under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, including illegal handling of weapons and theft of military property. They face 7 to 15 years in prison.

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