Massive Weapons Cache Uncovered by SBU: Over a Ton of Explosives and Dozens of Firearms Seized.

Arrests Made in Illegal Weapons Sales Operation

According to Espreso.tv: Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has detained multiple individuals attempting to sell illicit weapons and explosives, confiscating a substantial arsenal during the operations. Authorities seized more than one metric ton of explosives, attack drones, grenade launchers, Kalashnikov rifles—including the AK-12 model—grenades, and ammunition of various calibers.

Details of the Detentions

In Kyiv, officers arrested a resident of the Mykolaiv region who was trying to sell a weapons shipment stored in a friend’s garage in Kramatorsk. In the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, a three-person local network was uncovered, trafficking arms removed from active combat zones. Additionally, a commander of an engineer-sapper company in Donetsk was taken into custody for attempting to sell two decommissioned hexacopters, machine guns, and an AGS-17 grenade launcher.

In the Vinnytsia region, investigators exposed a man who had been listed as missing since February 2025 but had actually set up a hidden weapons cache. In Sumy region, authorities seized a machine gun, grenades, grenade launcher rounds, and a mine from a resident of the Okhtyrka district. In Kherson, a man was detained with an AKS-74U assault rifle that had been stolen during the city’s occupation.

All suspects have been formally charged under articles related to illegal weapons possession and theft of military property. The investigations are being conducted by prosecutors’ offices in Okhtyrka, Vinnytsia, Kherson, and specialized defense prosecutors. These actions highlight law enforcement’s ongoing efforts to combat illegal arms trafficking in Ukraine.

Detaining those involved in the illegal arms trade is a crucial step for strengthening security in Ukraine, especially amid the ongoing conflict.

The SBU operations demonstrate the active role of law enforcement in countering threats posed by weapons flowing from combat zones. They also underscore the urgent need for tighter arms control and anti-corruption measures within the military.