Ukraine's SBU Seizes Large Arsenal of Weapons in Anti-Crime Operation
1:52 PM EDT, March 30, 2024
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) recently arrested a criminal in Zhytomyr caught with an impressive cache of weapons. Let's delve into the details of what was found.
In Ukraine, the battle against organized crime runs parallel to the ongoing war with Russia, with a particular focus on curtailing the illicit flow of military-grade weapons. These could stem from corrupt military employees or be scavenged from front-line areas, among other sources.
In a notable case, SBU agents uncovered an extensive collection of anti-tank weaponry, predominantly grenades designed for the RPG-7 grenade launcher. See a related incident. This arsenal also comprised TM-62 anti-tank mines, mortar shells of 60 mm caliber, and ammunition of 12.7x99 mm NATO caliber.
What the apprehended Ukrainian had at home
The RPG-7 grenades found were mainly the common PG-7VL types, each weighing 2.6 kg (5.7 pounds) and capable of piercing up to 500 mm (19.7 inches) of armored steel. Though ineffective against more sophisticated armor types, these grenades are frequently used by Ukrainian and Russian forces in makeshift "kamikaze" drones.
A rarer find included thermobaric RTB-7MA grenades from Bulgaria, each weighing 4.6 kg (10.1 pounds) and designed for flushing out enemies in buildings, and Romanian OG-9 fragmentation grenades packed with roughly 750 g (1.65 pounds) of TNT, meant for the SPG-9 recoilless guns. Notably, there were also tandem PG-7VR grenades capable of slicing through up to 750 mm (29.5 inches) of armored steel.
Further discoveries entailed 2/3 Serbian 60 mm caliber mortar shells, type M73, capable of hitting targets up to 2.5 km (1.55 miles) away and creating a blast radius of 10 meters (32.8 feet). The cache also contained TM-62 mines with 7 kg (15.4 pounds) of TNT and several containers of 12.7x99 mm NATO caliber ammunition belts, designated for Browning M2 heavy machine guns.
The confiscated weapons are expected to be allocated to a local military unit and utilized as initially intended.
