As part of its security guarantees, the EU will focus on combating the illicit trade in weapons in Ukraine
The European Union is preparing a “fourth pillar” of security guarantees for Ukraine, which will focus on post-war reconstruction and the rule of law, including the fight against the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons. This package also provides for large-scale demining of territories and the reintegration of veterans into civilian life.
A senior EU official told “European Truth” about this on condition of anonymity, noting that these issues have become a priority following the recent visit of European ministers to Ukraine.
Special attention within the framework of future guarantees will be given to the psychological rehabilitation of military personnel, particularly the treatment of PTSD, and the use of veterans’ professional experience for the country’s development. European partners see potential in the qualified personnel of the defense forces for the civilian sector, which will require systematic support. While Ukraine, together with the EU, is developing transparent mechanisms for arms control and the social reintegration of heroes, in Russia, veterans of the war of aggression are often left to cope with psychological issues on their own, leading to rising crime and societal destabilization. The implementation of these initiatives will begin at the systemic level once active hostilities have ended.
Earlier in the Sumy region, during operational activities, SBI officers discovered an ammunition cache set up by Russian military personnel near the border. It contained nearly forty anti-tank mines and 10 homemade explosive devices.
In the Chernihiv region, border guards and police officers discovered a cache of ammunition in an uninhabited building in one of the villages. Serviceable ammunition will be transferred to the Defense Forces, and unserviceable ammunition will be destroyed.
Meanwhile, the SBU’s military counterintelligence has located two more hidden arsenals of weapons and ammunition in frontline areas in southern and eastern Ukraine.
