Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs no longer works with a Russian company providing gun forensic services based on database of cartridges identification, Internal Affairs Minister Arsen Avakov said.
“Fortunately, we refused the services of the Russian company providing us with this service. We cannot allow Russia to continue providing this service in the current situation. We are compiling our own database with foreign specialists on all firearms,” Avakov said during an interview with the Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
Avakov said currently about 1 million firearms are owned by Ukrainians.
“I think the proliferation of illegal weapons with a battle front 450 kilometers long, unfortunately, has become a reality. And this is an additional instability factor,” the minister said.
Avakov said law-enforcement officials are taking measures, attempting to ensure full control over firearms possession, both legally-owned firearms and keeping track of so-called written off weapons from the frontlines.
“The proliferation of firearms is a huge problem, just like rehabilitating individuals who have returned traumatized from the frontlines,” Avakov said.
