Ukraine Concealed Carry Push Continues as Civilian Gun Bill Returns to Agenda

AmmoLand ^ | September 11, 2026 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

On April 18, 2026, a 58-year-old man committed a mass murder in Kyiv, Ukraine, using a legally registered firearm. Seven people were killed. Two police officers fled the scene. The Minister of the Interior, Ihor Klymenko, established an administrative working group to consider the creation of a national law to allow citizens to own and carry handguns for self-defense. The working group was established on June 11, 2026.

Ihor Klymenko was replaced as Interior Minister on July 16, 2026. Ivan Vyhivskyi is the current Minister of the Interior. It is not clear if the working group has submitted recommendations to the parliament or if the working group is still working.

There has been movement elsewhere. On September 1, 2026, the Verkhovna Rada included Bill No. 5708, “On the Right to Civilian Firearms,” in its legislative agenda. The bill passed its first reading on February 23, 2022, and a parliamentary committee recommended its adoption on second reading in November 2023. Inclusion on the agenda does not guarantee a vote, but it means Ukraine’s long-delayed civilian-firearms legislation remains alive.

On August 9, 2026, an article published in sud.ua described a petition submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The petition is No. 41/010504-26ep. The petition outlines reasons for the Ukrainian government to solidify requirements to purchase, possess, and carry handguns in Ukraine.

The current system is regulated by acts of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.  The Ministry of Internal Affairs has control of the police forces of Ukraine and the National Guard. In effect, licenses to possess or carry handguns have been handed out, very rarely, by officials within the National Police force of Ukraine, pretty much at their discretion.  Not many are handed out. Requirements for issuing permits suggested in the petition are these:

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TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: banglist; ccw; clickbait; permits; ukraine

[marktwain]

The authorities are a bit more lax about citizens having firearms during the war. The problem with passing a clear shall issue law may be the lucrative practice of selling permits for significant amounts of cash. A reported figure is $20,000 for someone who is "not connected". Passing a clear law would remove much of that income flow.

[dynachrome]

Or will there be a problem if the reports about the military grabbing people off the streets are true? Armed resistance?

[DouglasKC]

My first reaction is to agree with the author. The requirements are ridiculous to those of us familiar and living in the United States. But for Europe they’re practically conservative.

[coloradan]

Gee, just four short years after being invaded by a neighbor, Ukraine starts thinking about maybe citizens generally should be allowed tools of self defense.

[AlaskaErik]

Two police officers fled the scene.

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