Ukraine's shifting stance: Millions of firearms in civilian hands
Ukraine is currently experiencing a significant shift in societal attitudes towards firearm ownership, particularly following the Russian invasion in February 2022.
As "The Sunday Times" reports, before the war, the majority of citizens opposed liberalising firearm ownership laws. However, the experiences of the conflict have altered this perspective, with the majority of Ukrainians now supporting access to firearms for self-defence purposes.
The legal situation regarding firearms in Ukraine is complex, as there is no specific law governing this matter; instead, it is regulated by a decree from the Ministry of Internal Affairs dating back to 1998.
The procedure for obtaining a gun licence requires undergoing thorough scrutiny and paying a fee. The entire process takes just a month. Ukrainians can own, among other types, shotguns and semi-automatic rifles, while pistols are only available as state awards.
Zelensky: We will give weapons to anyone
The invasion three years ago further complicated the situation.
"We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country," announced President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on 24th February 2022, the day the attack began.
During the invasion, the government distributed weapons to civilians, leading to a significant increase in the number of firearms in private hands. In large cities, citizens collected assault rifles from government trucks, and an unknown number remain in private hands today. In Kyiv alone, the government provided over 25,000 assault rifles and around 10 million rounds of ammunition to volunteers, as well as anti-tank grenades and launchers.
Up to five million firearms in circulation
According to estimates by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there may be between one and five million firearms in circulation, including a large number of weapons seized from Russian soldiers.
Experts fear that without appropriate control mechanisms after the war ends, there could be a rise in illegal arms trade, posing a threat not only to Ukraine but also to the region and the world.
"What's going to happen after a ceasefire?" asks Brian Lee, an expert in arms trade in Eastern and Western Europe. "There is no law regulating weapons. No Ukrainian policy for demobilisation, disarmament or the reintegration of veterans into society. There are readily available transit routes in the nearby Balkans to Western Europe," he explains.
