Ukrainian police launches nationwide operation to seize illegal weapons, prevent their leak from Donbas
KYIV. Sept 7 (Interfax) - The main purpose of the operation, which began on Thursday, is to counter the illegal circulation of weapons across the country, including preventing their leak from Donbas, Ukraine's criminal police chief Vyacheslav Abroskin said.
"Our main goal is the safety of citizens across the whole country. In the past few days alone police officers have seized 25 firearms, around 2,000 round of ammunitions and six explosive devices. As such, we are stepping up the work of countering proliferation of weapons to make every Ukrainian safe," Abroskin was quoted by the Ukrainian National Police communications department as saying.
The operation began in the Odesa region, where regional police personnel were put on alert on Thursday, he said. As of today, and until a special decree, regional police officers will remain on high alert. Further, the work of suppressing illegal weapons circulation will be stepped up in all Ukrainian regions.
In all, around 1,400 firearms, 916 grenades, 21 explosive devices and over 120,000 cartridges have been seized since the beginning of 2017, the police said.