Society: “Ukraine has become a dumping ground for old weapons” – A look

FSB thwarted a major channel of delivery of weapons to Russia from Ukraine and the EU through Ukraine. After the victory of the former Soviet republics of the Maidan has become a convenient transit corridor for the smuggling of weapons. The fact that the FSB found – probably just the tip of the iceberg, and Ukrainian barrels with interest watching the terrorists in the Middle East.

FSB stopped activity of a criminal group, which organized a major channel smuggling of arms from the European Union and from Ukraine to Russia, said Tuesday the ministry.

«In Ukraine the situation where the hands of the nationalists, the population is a huge number of firearms»

The FSB public relations center told Tass that ” July Smolensk in marketing the next batch of weapons was arrested in the act of the organizers of criminal activities, one of which was previously convicted citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan. ”

«At the same time in the 12 regions of the country detained 14 active members of the criminal group, three of them – the police force,” – added in the department.

In order to conceal criminal activity members of the gang used fake identity documents, and “fake” registration plates on vehicles.

«As a result of the special operation of illicit trafficking seized more than 150 firearms of Russian and foreign production: Kalashnikov machine gun, Kalashnikov assault rifles, submachine guns, carbines, rifles (M-16, M-4, G- B), pistols (“Glock”, “Chezet”, “Desert Eagle”, “Beretta”) and revolvers, including a silent shooting device, a grenade launcher, grenades, major parts and components for the manufacture of more than 200 weapons and over 2500 ammunition of various calibers, 10 kg of explosives and detonators, “- said the FSB.

According to intelligence agencies, eliminated four workshops for the manufacture of weapons and upgrades, as well as two workshops for the production of ammunition.

investigation units of the FSB and the Russian Interior Ministry prosecuted. Seized weapons aimed at the technical and ballistic examination. The issue of additional criminal charges under Article 226.1 of the Criminal Code (smuggling of weapons).

«Currently, we provide additional operational and search activities and investigation of Procedure perpetuate illegal activity OPG, finding their possible involvement in the commission of grave and especially grave crimes on the territory of Russia”, – added to the FSB.

Military Observer TASS, a retired colonel Viktor Litovkin told the newspaper view that “Ukraine has become a dumping ground for old weapons.”

«The fact that it is not even an open window and not by the door and gate to penetrate into the territory of our country of different types of weapons, obviously – he stressed. – The country where a civil war, where weapons owned by the illegal armed groups, criminals can not be another. And, of course, Ukraine is a weapon can be distributed anywhere – not only in Russia but also in the Middle East, to the Balkans. ”

«The control of these channels can be strengthened only on one condition … Only if Ukraine will stop the civil war and the victory of legal institutions. And while there is chaos, Ukraine is and will remain the area of ​​unregistered weapons “- said the expert.

With regard to the supply chain of weapons from the EU to Ukraine Litovkin he reminded that Ukraine has bought weapons in the West, even under the previous regime. “There is nothing surprising here, – he said. – Western Firearms always existed in the Ukrainian special units, the more we must remember that the Ukrainian specialists took part in the hostilities by Georgia against South Ossetia and Georgia against Russia. And they’re from Georgia, where he had plenty of Western arms, many of which were brought to his country. I repeat once again that Ukraine – a dump of the old Soviet, West European and American weapons that will long be felt. ”

«It is clear that consumers of these weapons in Russia – it is criminal structures, because the official armed forces or law enforcement authorities, of course, do not need the trunks of unknown origin is not known what crimes were committed by them … There is also a consumers can be attributed to the bandit underground in the Caucasus. This itself. We are talking about the gang and terrorist structures, they are all connected, “- he concluded.

Chief editor of “National Defense” Igor Korotchenko believes that after the events on the Maidan Ukraine “has become a very convenient transit corridor for arms deliveries to Europe and from Europe to other countries, including Russia.”

«And on the territory of the Ukraine to establish a situation where the hands of the nationalists, the population is a huge number of firearms, including those abducted from the warehouses of the Armed Forces and the Security Service. All these weapons are seeking a buyer. And the Ukrainian criminal organizations and mafias of the West there is a desire to export these weapons, including on the territory of Russia “, – he added.

According to Korotchenko, that the FSB managed to find – only the “tip of the iceberg.” Among consumers of these weapons in Russia, he also sees the representatives of criminal circles and separatists from the North Caucasus.

«I think that the worst thing – is that in the hands of the” Right Sector * “a year ago, got a large number of man-portable air defense systems. They are nowhere still not surfaced. And in an environment of international terrorist organizations, particularly in the IG, there is demand for such weapons “- shared Korochenko.

In this regard, he called on European security structure, Interpol join with colleagues from Russia to work together to cut off the channels of delivery of such weapons.

The expert also suggested that the EU arms flows to Ukraine, including through the channels of the Ukrainian diaspora in the European countries.

«In addition, the Ukrainian nationalists actively seeking markets in Western Europe. Therefore, we established criminal connections between groups that are engaged in illegal forms of business in Europe – drug trafficking – and the Ukrainian nationalists. Under the joint business they are looking for markets, considering Russia as a country where illegal weapons can be resold to those who are interested in this “- he suggested.

Finally, Korotchenko did not rule out that the killings of people on Independence Square in Kiev in winter 2014 may be related weapons from the EU.

«Now nothing can be ruled out. But it is necessary, of course, from start to finish to investigate these crimes, because so far as we know, the investigation had not brought to an end. And the current Ukrainian government, apparently, does not want it “- he concluded.

Earlier, a military expert Alexander Perendzhiev told the newspaper VIEW strong ties to a number of Ukrainian leaders of the radical wing with the bandit underground in the North Caucasus. This relationship goes back to the time when the representatives of the UNA-UNSO * and other radicals were directly involved in the fighting in the North Caucasus as mercenaries against the Russian army.

It should be noted, in Kiev on the eve of the local security forces blocked the channel arms smuggling.

Where it delivers, it is unknown. It has been reported about the detention of a group of persons unlawfully to send arms to the Ukraine, and plan to implement it in Kiev and Kiev region, “Interfax-Ukraine”.

During the searches attackers seized an impressive arsenal, in particular pistol “Glock”, semiautomatic rifle M-16, more than 4 thousand. Cartridges for firearms of different caliber bullets, cartridge cases, primers, powder, tools for assembly and cartridges Other parts for assembly of firearms.

July 17 President Poroshenko promised to pay special attention to the fight against illegal circulation of weapons, and even to bring to the fight against smuggling of volunteers.

According to some data, in Ukraine 80% of the black market in weapons is taken out from the zone military operation in the Donbas.

In March 2014 the Russian FSB blocked channel smuggling of weapons from EU countries through Ukraine to Russia, the North Caucasus. Even then, experts spoke of the “factor of instability” that is characteristic of present-day Ukraine and who are taking advantage of the criminals. For almost one and a half years of fighting the situation became only more complicated.