**Ukraine Prepares for Post-War Gun Control as Peace Talks Intensify**
As peace talks between Ukraine and Russia gain momentum, experts are already bracing for a looming threat: the potential large-scale proliferation of guns in Ukraine once the war subsides. The Ukrainian government is facing a daunting task of collecting and disposing of vast quantities of arms and ammunition that were lost or abandoned by combatants on both sides.
According to Nicolas Florquin, senior researcher at the Small Arms Survey, Ukraine will have to deal with a significant amount of unaccounted-for firearms when the war ends. “When the war ends, Ukraine will not only have to rebuild its infrastructure and resettle displaced people – it will also have to collect and dispose of vast quantities of arms and ammunition,” he said.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that martial law was introduced in February 2022, which allowed civilians to obtain firearms for self-defense. In Kyiv alone, over 25,000 automatic rifles and 10 million bullets were handed out to civilians during the early days of the full-scale invasion. The exact number of new weapons brought into the country through government procurement and aid packages is difficult to calculate.
Despite concerns about skyrocketing gun crimes or weapons leaking outside the border, research conducted by the Small Arms Survey has found that access to firearms for average civilian households has actually decreased since 2022. This is largely due to the fact that active war efforts have kept most of these weapons at the front line, preventing large-scale diversion within Ukraine and to foreign countries.
However, sporadic incidents like a recent shooting in Kyiv where a man killed a soldier and his mother-in-law in a dispute over an illicit firearm sale have raised concerns about whether illicit guns are spreading. According to Florquin, these events should be “something to watch” but not yet alarming.
**Steps for Reform, But No New Gun Control Law Yet**
The Ukrainian government has implemented some new gun control measures since the war broke out, including the introduction of a unified registration system for firearm holders in June 2023. However, registration remains voluntary, and more than a third of Ukrainian households with firearms have not registered any of them.
A coordination center to combat illicit trafficking of firearms, gun parts, and ammunition has also been established. Although it lacks decision-making authority, the center has been useful for consultation and policy development.
Despite these efforts, Ukraine still lacks a comprehensive gun control law. Proposed legislation giving citizens the right to carry certain firearms and regulating the practice has stalled in parliament for years. “The fact that we have not yet passed such a law for 30 years (of Ukrainian independence), I think, indicates that this is already a political issue,” said Voronina.
**Domestic Risks of Unchecked Proliferation**
While international discussion around Ukraine’s arms control has focused primarily on risks of international trafficking, Florquin and Voronina both agree that the domestic risks of unchecked proliferation are higher. These include the impact on violent crime, accidental discharges, and suicide within Ukraine.
“We currently do not have a very high percentage of weapons leaks abroad,” said Voronina. “Our law enforcement agencies keep this issue under high control. Today, the issue of threats from illegal arms trafficking is more internal. Because weapons are found in playgrounds, weapons are found in apartments.”
Florquin echoed her view that those who will pay the greatest cost for unchecked proliferation will be the Ukrainians themselves. “They will be the ones having to manage the challenge of arms proliferation and to pay most of the human cost,” he said.
**Read More:** [As Ukraine’s peace talks gather steam, experts plan ahead for post-ceasefire gun control](https://kyivindependent.com/as-ukraines-peace-talks-gather-steam-experts-plan-ahead-for-post-ceasefire-gun-control/)
