Balancing Control and Awareness: Firearms and Safety in Ukraine
Situation Update: Ukraine
The Ukrainian population’s perception towards firearms is evolving. While civilian possession remains limited, the ongoing war since the Russian invasion increases the risk of illicit proliferation, potential misuse, and broader safety concerns. As of July 2024, 5% of surveyed households report possessing firearms—down from pre-invasion levels and the lowest since monitoring began. Of these firearm-owning households, 63% reported having (some of) their weapons recorded in the Unified Register of Weapons (URW), up from 46% in December 2023. Meanwhile, about one-third of interviewed Ukrainians reported receiving training on firearm safety, with 24% having undergone formal training from armed services or other sources.
Balancing Control and Awareness: Firearms and Safety in Ukraine—the third of the Survey’s Situation Updates series on firearms possession and proliferation in Ukraine—builds on a series of general population surveys carried out between 2019 and July 2024. This Situation Update focuses on the impact of war participation on ownership rates, gaps in formal firearm safety training, and the growing public awareness of firearm registration through the use of the Unified Register of Weapons launched in June 2023.
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Firearms possession and accessibility, and crime victimization
This Situation Update was funded by a grant from the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO). The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the GFFO.
