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Ukraine residents have at least 3,000 weapons in uncontrolled circulation

According to Ukrainian Interior Minister, about 8,000 weapons were laid down, but a large amount of weapons are still in illegal circulation

Protesters using air rifles in the clashes with riot police (archive) EPA/DANYLO PRYHODKO

Protesters using air rifles in the clashes with riot police (archive)

© EPA/DANYLO PRYHODKO

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Security Service of Ukraine announces seizing illegal weapons arsenal in Lviv region

KIEV, April 01. /ITAR-TASS/. More than three thousand weapons are “in uncontrolled circulation” among Ukrainian residents, Ukrainian Interior Minister appointed by the country’s parliament Verkhovna Rada Arsen Avakov told reporters before a government meeting in the Ukrainian capital on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian Security Service has earlier stated that special operations had been carried out to confiscate illegal weapons in different regions of the country, as the deadline for voluntary laying down of weapons to law enforcement agencies had already expired.

According to Avakov, about 8,000 weapons were laid down, but a large amount of weapons are still in illegal circulation. “In my view, a quite large number of guns of at least three thousand are still in uncontrolled circulation,” the minister said.

Avakov noted that voluntary surrender of weapons was “a key factor of stabilisation of current situation in Ukraine.

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