Draft bill #9538 of July 28, 2023
Sponsor: the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
Status: adopted in the first reading
Who is affected: citizens of Ukraine, the National Police, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs
Summary:
- a person will have the obligation to declare a weapon they found or were issued to resist the armed aggression by the Russian Federation. This procedure will be simplified, free, and defined by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
- a civilian will be required to notify the police that they found a weapon or ammunition and declare or surrender this weapon or ammunition within 24 hours
- the declared weapon or ammunition is state property. A civilian will be allowed to possess and use them during martial law and for 90 days after it ends
- if the found or declared weapon serves as evidence in criminal proceedings, has illegally changed or removed markings, or does not conform to regulations in other respects, it will be confiscated by the National Police
- it will not be required to declare weapons and ammunition owned by service members of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Armed Forces, and other military units, as well as employees of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, state special-purpose agencies, civil defense forces, and defense-industrial complex of Ukraine.
What is right: civilians will be able to declare their weapons and ammunition during martial law.
Background information: on March 4, 2022, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a law ensuring civilian participation in the defense of Ukraine. It allows Ukrainian citizens, as well as foreigners and stateless persons legally residing in Ukraine and wishing to participate in the defense Ukraine, to receive firearms.