On August 20, 2024, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed a significant piece of legislation regulating the use of found or “trophy” firearms. This new law, approved in a second reading, outlines the procedures for civilians to declare, handle, and utilize these weapons, primarily aimed at supporting the defense against Russian aggression during the ongoing martial law.
Under the new legislation, which garnered approval from 291 members of parliament, civilians who come across firearms, their key components, or ammunition are required to promptly report these finds to the National Police of Ukraine. They must either surrender the weapons or provide information about their location within 24 hours. This process is designed to facilitate the proper handling and seizure of the found arms.
The law stipulates that firearms and ammunition declared by civilians can be used to counter and repel aggression from the Russian Federation or other foreign states. However, there are specific restrictions on what can be declared. Rifled firearms with a caliber of 12.7 mm or larger, smooth-bore firearms exceeding 23 mm in caliber, as well as machine guns, grenade launchers, mortars, flamethrowers, and other heavy weaponry, are excluded from the declaration process. These items, along with firearms that are associated with criminal activities or ammunition sold separately from the weapons, are to be seized by the National Police according to established procedures.
Civilians who possess firearms and ammunition that are not subject to declaration are expected to surrender these items to the National Police within 90 days following the end of martial law. The law mandates that civilians must also declare or turn in any declared firearms and unused ammunition within one month of coming into possession of these items.
The legislation provides clear guidelines on the types of firearms that cannot be declared or owned by civilians, including those belonging to other individuals or entities, and those types deemed unsuitable for civilian possession.
This new law is part of a broader legislative package that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the Verkhovna Rada to address. The package includes measures on defense, citizenship for foreign fighters in Ukrainian legions, and the revocation of state awards from individuals deemed traitors.
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