Mykolaiv's Firearms Declaration Campaign: Key Results and Guidelines

The campaign to declare weapons and ammunition continues in Mykolaiv region. Law enforcement officials have summarized the results of the campaign.

According to the press service of the National Police in Mykolaiv region, since the start of the firearms declaration campaign, 146 people have applied to the police and declared 162 weapons and more than 12,000 rounds of ammunition. Among them: 94 assault rifles, 14 carbines, 41 smoothbore weapons and 13 pistols.

Law enforcement officials emphasized that if a citizen finds weapons or ammunition, he or she should inform a community police officer who will explain the procedure for registration. They will also need to decide whether to declare the weapon and keep it legally or voluntarily hand it over to the police.

The following documents are required for declaration: an application letter, passport, identification code, residence permit, and a 3.5×4.5 cm photo.

Specialists of the licensing service will inspect the weapon, register it and issue a document confirming the declaration. After that, the weapon will be returned to the owner for legal storage.

Police officers reminded that voluntary declaration or surrender of weapons is exempt from criminal liability under Article 263 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for up to 7 years in prison for illegal handling of weapons.

On 25 November, the Law of Ukraine "On Ensuring the Participation of Civilians in the Defense of Ukraine" came into force, regulating the procedure for obtaining, declaring and bringing firearms. From now on, until the end of martial law, civilians who have received or found firearms, regardless of their type (automatic, semi-automatic, smoothbore), can declare them to the police and have them legally secured. Starting December 25, after a one-month period, found firearms are also subject to mandatory declaration.

Not long ago, Mykolaiv hosted a training course on marksmanship called "Marksmanship 1.0" organized by the military of the 140th separate reconnaissance battalion. The citizens should know how to properly handle weapons and familiarize themselves with their different types. The participants of the training received knowledge of basic safety rules and familiarized themselves with the equipment.

Анна Бальчінос