Crimes Committed With Firearms: Police Statistics for 9 Months 2025

While analysing crimes committed with firearms and corresponding crime statistics, it could be expected that crime rates resulting from illegal use of firearms would extremely rise after February 2022.

Nevertheless, police statistics partly refute such a presumption. Yes, it is obvious that the number of crimes with weapons has seriously risen for the twelve months of 2022 compared with 2021 or 2020. On the other hand, Ukrainian history knows examples when the number of crimes with weapons was higher (for example, in 2014). 

At the same time, it should also be noted that the number of crimes committed with the use of firearms in 2015 (in the period of the continuing Russian invasion to Eastern Ukraine was less than even for twelve months of 2022.

In 6 months of 2025, the LEA opened 426 criminal proceedings on crimes of illegal use of firearms (173 criminal proceedings with suspects). It means that in the first 6 months of 2025 the LEA registered 52% of the total number of the crimes of such category registered in 2024.

In 7 months of 2025, the LEA opened 491 criminal proceedings on crimes of illegal use of firearms (204 criminal proceedings with suspects). It means that in the first 6 months of 2025 the LEA registered 59% of the total number of the crimes of such category registered in 2024.

In 9 months of 2025, the LEA opened 582 criminal proceedings on crimes of illegal use of firearms (269 criminal proceedings with suspects). It means that in the first 6 months of 2025 the LEA registered 70% of the total number of the crimes of such category registered in 2024.

Additionally, it should be noted that in 2022, alongside an increase in the number of crimes committed using firearms, the number of suspects in the same criminal proceedings decreased, which could also raise an issue concerning the effectiveness of LEA activities.

Police statistics of 2022 demonstrate to which extent the number of registered intentional homicides committed with the use of firearms has risen:

• in 2021, there were 36 intentional homicides committed using firearms; 
• in 2022, the same indicator increased to the level of 247 crimes;
• in 2023, the same indicator increased to the level of 909 crimes;
• in 2024, the same indicator decreased to the level of 295 crimes;
• in 6 months of 2025, the same indicator reached to the level of 102 crimes;
• in 7 months of 2025, the same indicator reached to the level of 113 crimes;
• in 8 months of 2025, the same indicator reached to the level of 122 crimes;
• in 9 months of 2025, the same indicator reached the level of 136 crimes.

The same could be said about intentional serious bodily harm committed with firearms.

Here, it should be noted that, on one hand, 2022 has brought a bigger number of such crimes. 

On the other hand, the 2014 data show the same numbers of crimes even in the absence of full-scaled Russian armed aggression.

Figure demonstrates the number of robberies committed with the use of firearms and numbers of suspects in corresponding criminal proceedings.

On one hand, we can observe a significant increase in robberies committed with the use of firearms as compared with 2021.

On the other hand, police statistics for 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 demonstrate much bigger numbers of robberies even when Ukrainian society was not so deeply saturated with firearms as in 2022. 

The next figure demonstrates data on the number of crimes committed with the use of explosives and the numbers of suspects in corresponding criminal proceedings.

Here, it can be concluded that crimes committed with the use of explosives have indicated a dualistic trend: 1) the number or crimes increased (63 crimes in 2023, 86 crimes in 2024); 2) the number of criminal proceedings with suspects decreased (14 proceedings in 2023, 18 proceedings in 2024).

The saturation of Ukrainian society with firearms and an increase in numbers of military men in the country is used by organized crime groups which commit crimes not only with the use of firearms but also with the use of military or police uniform.

Here, it should also be stressed on one aspect of post-war life of any state. It is not only about social rehabilitation of former soldiers who directly participated in military actions but also potentially possible criminal activity of persons with post-war traumatic disorders where some of them will not find themselves in post-war society. 

The next figure demonstrates trends in different crimes committed with firearms and explosives in comparison.