Legalization of weapons after the terrorist attack in Kyiv - is Ukraine ready for the right to self-defense
Kyiv • UNN
Experts discussed citizens' right to self-defense and the need for strict control over gun owners. Ukrainians already have two million firearms.
After the terrorist attack in Kyiv on April 18, the long-standing debate about legalizing short-barreled firearms for civilians flared up again in Ukraine. Supporters speak of citizens' right to self-defense, while opponents warn of the risks of increased violence, domestic conflicts, and the threat of pro-Russian elements using weapons. UNN spoke with military-political observer of the "Information Resistance" group Oleksandr Kovalenko and military expert Oleksiy Hetman about whether Ukraine needs weapons legalization, what risks it entails, and whether there is international experience that can be used as a guide.
The discussion is not new, but the war has changed its content
The issue of freer access to weapons for civilians has been discussed in Ukraine for many years. Even before the full-scale war, draft laws on civilian weapons periodically appeared, but a final political decision was never made.
After 2022, the topic took on a new dimension - millions of Ukrainians saw the war up close, part of the population participated in the self-defense of cities, and a large number of illegal weapons ended up in their hands. That is why the current discussion is no longer just about rights, but also about state security.
A law-abiding person has the right to protection
Oleksiy Hetman believes that the legalization of civilian weapons in Ukraine is necessary if it concerns mentally healthy and law-abiding citizens. In his opinion, the state should give people the opportunity to protect themselves and their families.
I am sure that legalization is needed. A person who is mentally healthy and law-abiding has the right to personal protection. When they say that everyone will start shooting at each other - these are emotions, not analysis. We need to look at the facts
According to him, there is already a significant number of unregistered weapons in Ukraine.
According to more or less verified estimates, there may be about two million unregistered barrels in the hands of the population. That is, weapons already exist. The only question is whether they will be in the shadows, or whether the state will register them, conduct examinations, test fire, identify the owner and rules of use
He adds that the current model creates a paradox: criminals have weapons, but law-abiding citizens do not.
Bandits and criminals have weapons. People who live by the law do not have the right to carry them. So a simple question arises - whom does such a system actually protect?
Legalization is needed, but control must be strict
Oleksandr Kovalenko approaches the topic much more cautiously. He admits that the right to bear arms in wartime makes sense, but warns that without an extremely strict system of checks, it could become a serious internal threat.
It cannot be just a doctor's certificate, payment of a fee, and permission to buy a pistol. It must be a comprehensive check of the person - psychological, biographical, counterintelligence. We need to understand who this person is, what their views are, whether they support the enemy, what they say about the war, whether they pose a threat to society
The expert points out that there is still a latent pro-Russian environment in Ukraine, which can become active at a critical moment.
We still have a certain layer of people with hidden pro-Russian sentiments. If such a category receives legal weapons, then on day X they can use them not for self-defense, but against the Ukrainian state. This must be taken into account absolutely soberly
In his opinion, the events in Kyiv showed that the issue is not only the availability of weapons, but also who gets them.
This situation demonstrates that legalization is possible only with the most serious selection. Because if the system is corrupt - certificates will be bought, permits will be sold, and weapons will end up in the hands of dangerous people
Does legalization lead to an increase in crime?
One of the main arguments of opponents of legalization is the fear of a sharp increase in shootings, murders, and conflicts. However, international experience is much more complex and does not provide a clear answer.
In the US, the right to bear arms is one of the broadest in the world, but the country has different crime rates depending on the state. In many states with a high gun ownership culture, violent crime is lower than in megacities with stricter restrictions. At the same time, the US is often criticized for mass shootings.
In Switzerland, civilian gun ownership is historically widespread, but the level of street crime is low. This is explained by the high discipline of society, strict control, and high trust in institutions.
In the Czech Republic, civilian carrying of short-barreled weapons is allowed after a complex licensing procedure. The country has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe.
At the same time, in Latin America, the presence of a large number of weapons is often combined with high crime - but there the problem is created not by the fact of legalization itself, but by the weakness of state institutions, corruption, and the activities of drug cartels. That is, weapons themselves do not determine the level of crime. The quality of the state, the judicial system, the police, and the culture of responsibility are key.
What can work in Ukraine
Experts agree on one thing - if Ukraine does go down the path of legalization, it should not be a "free sale of weapons," but a multi-level admission model.
This includes mandatory psychiatric and medical checks, checks for criminal records and ties to crime, weapons training, exams and regular skill confirmation, storage control, strict penalties for violating rules, and checks for anti-state activities in wartime.
War changes the arguments of both sides
Before 2022, the discussion revolved mainly around domestic security. Now the factor of war has been added - the risk of sabotage, internal destabilization, terrorist attacks, but also the need for citizens to self-defend during emergencies. That is why, after the tragedy in Kyiv, the topic returned to the public space.
Thus, the legalization of weapons in Ukraine remains one of the most complex social issues. Some experts consider it necessary for the right to self-defense. Others agree only with extremely strict control so that weapons do not fall into the hands of criminals, radicals, or enemy agents.
After the terrorist attack in Kyiv, the discussion will only intensify. But the main question remains unchanged - is the state capable of creating an honest, uncorrupted, and safe system for controlling civilian weapons?