Military from Mykolaiv region was selling weapons from the frontline and was taken into custody

A serviceman from Mykolaiv region was remanded in custody on suspicion of illegal possession and sale of weapons and drugs. According to the investigation, he brought a machine gun, a grenade and ammunition from the frontline and sold part of the arsenal.

This is evidenced by the ruling of the Pervomaiskyi City District Court of Mykolaiv Region.

The investigating judge granted the request of the investigation and extended the measure of restraint in the form of detention for the serviceman, who is suspected of a number of crimes.

According to the investigation, the citizen of Ukraine, who was mobilized in 2022 and served as an operator of unmanned aerial systems in a reconnaissance platoon, illegally stored and sold firearms and ammunition.

In particular, it is a Kalashnikov machine gun, a tape with 7.62 mm ammunition (250 pieces), an F-1 hand grenade with a fuse, 5.45 mm (over 2800 pieces) and 7.62 mm (over 400 pieces) ammunition, as well as a modernized Kalashnikov machine gun. The suspect was found to have illegally transported these weapons from positions in the Kherson sector to the village of Kumari, Pervomaisk district, Mykolaiv region, and stored them in his own home.

In addition, in March 2025, the man, according to the investigation, sold a machine gun and ammunition to another person for UAH 15 thousand. The weapons and ammunition were later seized by law enforcement.

During the detention and interrogation, the suspect did not deny the validity of the suspicion, but rather confirmed the circumstances described by the investigation. According to the investigation, the man has a negative reputation. Although he did serve in the Armed Forces under mobilization, he left the military unit without permission in December 2022. He has not been officially employed since then.

According to the court, he has a permanent address, is unmarried, is officially the father of two children, but does not communicate with them or provide material support. The suspect is also accused of illegal acquisition and possession of drugs without intent to sell - another episode in the criminal proceedings.

The prosecutor insisted that if released from custody, the man could hide from the investigating authorities, influence the course of the investigation, or destroy evidence. The court upheld the prosecution's arguments and extended the measure of restraint in the form of detention.

Criminal proceedings were opened under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - Part 1 of Article 263 (illegal handling of weapons) and Part 1 of Article 309 (illegal possession of drugs). The investigation is ongoing.

In February, a Mykolaiv court sentenced a serviceman who was found to be in possession of an illegally stored M67 fragmentation grenade. Despite his previous convictions for theft, fraud and drugs, this time the man avoided prison, although the law provided for up to seven years in prison.

Анна Бальчінос