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The Security Service of Ukraine has announced the seizure of hidden weapon caches in Ukraine before the military equipment could be sold for profit.
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The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and National Police officers prevented the selling of Russian “trophy” weapons, ammunition, and explosives by four black market arms dealers, according to a statement published on 14 March by the law enforcement authority, intelligence and security agency of the Ukraine government.
The SSU, under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office, seized an underground cache of weapons located in a forest in the de-occupied Izium district of the Kharkiv Oblast region.
Seized items, allegedly sourced from a former Russian base, included several boxes of TNT and plastic explosive including more than 60 kilograms of explosives, a Dragunov sniper rifle, ammunition for grenade launchers and Fagot anti-tank missile system, large-calibre machine guns and more than 13,000 rounds of various calibres.
Law enforcement officials have also located hidden weapon arsenals left by occupiers fleeing from the Kyiv region. Two individuals are alleged to have found the caches and decided to sell the weapons, according to the SSU.
Items seized from the weapon caches include a Russian BRDM armoured scout vehicle with large-calibre machine gun, more than 150 rounds of grenade launcher ammunition, and 15 Russian-made combat grenades.
The SSU also detained a local resident in the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine for trying to sell a Kalashnikov handgun and other items. A follow-up search of the man’s residence found items including two AK-74 assault rifles, four combat grenades, and more than 1,300 rounds of ammunition of assorted calibres.
The persons involved have been served notices of suspicion for illegal handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives. Suspects face up to seven years in prison and all seized munitions will be handed over to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In December last year, the SSU prevented the sale of combat aircraft components in Dnipro, central Ukraine. The starter generators, aircraft pumps and spare parts for MiG-29 multi-purpose fighters (worth around USD$268,000) were allegedly stolen from a Ukrainian enterprise for intended sale to Russia.
In November last year, the SSU and National Police apprehended two individuals allegedly attempting to sell arms and ammunition illegally in Rivne and Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast region.
In September 2023, The SSU and National Police detained the rector of a temple belonging to Moscow patriarchate’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church after an investigation into the selling of weapons and ammunition in Kherson.
The SSU documented the cleric keeping enemy arsenals in two caches and documented an attempt to sell two Igla man-portable air defence systems with components, as well as “offered” RPG-7 anti-tank grenade launcher ammunition. The priest also allegedly kept a machine gun, Kalashnikov rifle, F-1 combat grenades, and automatic weapon ammunition.
The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Kherson region and the National Police under the procedural supervision of Kherson Region and District Prosecutor’s Offices.
