Kherson exposes channel for selling military weapons through Nova Poshta

In Kherson region, a group that illegally sold military weapons, including assault rifles and machine guns, was exposed. The suspects acted by prior conspiracy and even sold weapons through post offices, partially under police control.

This is evidenced by the ruling of the Zavodskyi District Court of Mykolaiv.

Police investigators in Kherson region are investigating a case against two people suspected of illegally purchasing, storing and selling firearms. According to the investigation, one of the suspects, a former military officer in Kharkiv, bought combat weapons without proper permits and handed them over to an accomplice for further sale.

The man purchased several types of firearms, including an under-barrel grenade launcher and a Kalashnikov assault rifle, as well as a Kalashnikov machine gun. He kept the weapons in unspecified places until they were sold. Some sales were conducted through Nova Poshta post offices, and the suspect received money for them on bank accounts.

Law enforcement officers established that the suspects acted in concert to implement the scheme. Some of the arms sales transactions were carried out under police control as part of special operations: the suspects transferred the weapons to a conditional "buyer" and recorded the money received as evidence in criminal proceedings.

The operational purchase, conducted in May and June 2025, confirmed the facts of illegal sale. Thus, a Kalashnikov rifle and a machine gun were transferred to a buyer who was under law enforcement control. The total amount of the transactions amounted to over UAH 150 thousand.

In October 2025, the suspect was detained and served with a notice of suspicion under articles providing for the illegal acquisition, storage and sale of firearms. The next day, the court imposed a preventive measure in the form of detention with the possibility of bail. When the bail was posted, the suspect was released on his own recognizance.

The pre-trial investigation lasts until March 2026. Investigators continue to collect evidence, interview witnesses, and record all the facts of illegal arms trafficking.

Last year, the Court of Appeal, upholding the position of the Kherson Regional Prosecutor's Office, reconsidered the too lenient sentence and issued a new decision. A man found guilty of illegal acquisition and possession of ammunition and explosives was sentenced to three years in prison. During the searches, law enforcement officers seized warheads of unguided aircraft missiles, grenade launchers and other ammunition.

Анна Бальчінос