Photo: Ihor Klymenko | Ministry of Internal Affairs / Telegram
According to Klymenko, it is necessary to ensure people’s right to armed self-defense.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko believes Ukraine should adopt a law on civilian firearms. During a meeting with media representatives, he stressed that the main goal is to ensure citizens’ right to armed self-defense “provided they are fully trained,” Ukrinform reports.
“I want a law on civilian firearms. Types of weapons, carbines — hunting rifles, smoothbore, rifled — all of this needs to be classified. And a person must complete training, including safe handling of firearms,” the minister said.
According to Klymenko, this involves building an entire system: amendments to criminal legislation, clear definitions of self-defense limits, and the expansion of shooting ranges and storage facilities. He added that he has already discussed the issue with members of the Verkhovna Rada, and that the ministry will begin broad consultations next week involving experts, the public, and journalists.
“We are ready for this dialogue. We want such a system to exist. We want people to have the right to armed self-defense. And most importantly — we want that person to be trained,” Klymenko said.
Recall that on April 18, a terrorist attack occurred in the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv: a man with a rifle killed seven people. It later emerged that police officers fled the scene and left a child without assistance. After this, Klymenko stated that the entire leadership chain of Kyiv’s patrol police had been dismissed.
