OpenLegislation

Division 1 Background

United Kingdom

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In recent years, Ukraine has been facing significant safety and security risks and challenges related to the spread of illicit weapons, ammunition and explosives (WAE) across its borders and on its territory. These have been in particular aggravated by the crisis in and around Ukraine and have been manifested in the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking in WAE.

Ukraine remains an area of concern and an important challenge in the EU Strategy against illicit firearms, small Arms & light weapons (SALW) and their ammunition (the ‘EU SALW Strategy’). The EU SALW Strategy states that ‘the current instability in Eastern Europe has raised the level of illicit trafficking of firearms in various countries in the region, such as Ukraine. This presents a significant long-term security threat to both Ukraine and the EU. Cooperation between the EU and Ukraine on this issue is thus of mutual interest. The EU is pursuing its bilateral engagement with Ukraine and other countries in the region and systematically integrates the fight against illicit SALW into any dialogue on security matters with partner countries in the neighbourhood.’.

Thus, with the reference to Eastern Neighbourhood in general and Ukraine in particular the EU SALW strategy sets out the following actions:

  • ‘The EU and its Member States will integrate the fight against firearms/SALW trafficking in the context of the dialogue on security matters with partner countries in the neighbourhood, such as Ukraine;

  • The EU and its Member States will establish channels of communication between EU and Ukrainian experts, identify a contact point to ensure smooth cooperation, raise awareness, share best practices and expertise, and identify training needs and other support measures to strengthen Ukraine’s capacities in the field; and

  • The EU and its Member States will keep working on a permanent technical roundtable with Ukraine to address the pressing problem of the illicit traffic of firearms and the risks associated with such arms falling into the hands of terrorists and organised crime groups.’.

Based on the initial request of the State Border Guards Service of Ukraine (SBGS) made in May 2016, the OSCE Secretariat carried out the ‘Needs Assessment for Combatting the Illicit Trafficking in Weapons, Ammunition and Explosives in/and Across Ukraine’s Borders’ (the ‘needs assessment’). The needs assessment, published in April 2018, involved several WAE regulating, law-enforcement and security ministries and agencies. It revealed that the current approach to detecting and curbing illicit trafficking in WAE within and across Ukraine’s borders is proving challenging. The support in terms of human and technical resources development, clearly understood legislation and inter-agency level coordination, as well as international support and cooperation needs to be enhanced. The needs assessment also established the baseline for providing technical assistance and institutional support to develop the capacities of the Ukrainian authorities in their efforts to combat trafficking in WAE in a holistic and sustainable way.

On 7 June 2018, the main WAE regulating, law-enforcement and security ministries and agencies in Ukraine confirmed the results of the needs assessment at a high-level meeting organised in Kyiv. They reiterated clearly understood current and looming threats of illicit trafficking in WAE and commitments to improve the situation on the ground. This included endorsing the road-map, developed through the needs assessment, which supports an integrated, comprehensive and cooperative approach for effective capacities development and work of the system to combat illicit trafficking in WAE in Ukraine.

On 12 March 2019, the same authorities met at the second high-level meeting organised in Kyiv whereby the progress on discussing challenges, actual needs and initiatives related to combating illicit trafficking in WAE in Ukraine and across its borders has been clearly noted. Moreover, the national and international commitments to strengthen action have also been made at the meeting.

Several law-enforcement and security ministries and agencies have officially, in written form, expressed interest and requested cooperation with the OSCE Secretariat in supporting Ukraine’s efforts to combat illicit trafficking in WAE, namely the SBGS in May 2016, the State Fiscal Service (SFS)/State Customs Service (SCS) in July 2018, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in March 2019. These ministries and agencies have addressed the OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine to support practical implementation of project activities by mid-September 2019.