Weapons safe - requirements for the storage of weapons by citizens of Ukraine

In our troubled times, it is better to be armed with information to know your rights and responsibilities well. So, this article is about Order No. 622 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the instructions that should be used.

The good habit of looking for primary sources of information leads us to the website of the Verkhovna Rada, where the order No. 622 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine dated August 21, 1998 is posted, which approves the relevant instructions on the procedure for the manufacture, acquisition, storage, accounting, transportation and use of firearms, pneumatic, cold and cooled weapons, devices of domestic production for firing cartridges equipped with rubber or metal projectiles similar in their properties of non-lethal action, and cartridges for them, as well as ammunition for weapons, main parts of weapons and explosive materials.

We are interested in the conditions of storage of weapons in Ukraine. It turned out that these conditions are somewhat different for so-called departmental weapons and weapons owned by citizens.
In the first case, read chapter 11:

11. Storage, accounting and use of weapons, main parts of weapons and combat supplies for them, devices and cartridges for them

1.1. Firearms, pneumatic, melee weapons and combat supplies for weapons, devices and cartridges for them, purchased by enterprises, institutions, organizations for the purpose specified in clause 9.1 of chapter 9 of this section, belong to the department. It is forbidden to use them for other purposes, for a purpose not provided for by the founding documents (regulations), statutory tasks, transfer them to other persons, sell them, store them in the residences of employees, except for the cases provided for in clauses 11.15 and 11.16 of this chapter.
...
11.7. Firearms, main parts of weapons, ammunition for them, devices and cartridges for them must be stored in metal cabinets (safes), the walls of which must be at least 3 mm thick with internal locks (at least two). The doors of the cabinets are strengthened with metal overlays or kerchiefs for strength. On the inside of the cabinet door, there should be a description of weapons, main parts of weapons, ammunition, devices and cartridges for them by numbers. It is allowed to store weapons, main parts of weapons, ammunition for them, devices, cartridges for them in heavy safes with internal locks.

The seventh subparagraph provides detailed information on the requirements for a safe for the storage of firearms. But it applies only to departmental firearms.

Storage of weapons for citizens is described in chapter 12.

12. Purchase, storage and carrying, transportation of hunting rifled and smoothbore weapons, combat supplies for them, main parts of weapons, pneumatic, cooled and cold weapons, devices and cartridges for them by citizens.

Namely:

12.12. Weapons, combat supplies for them, the main parts of weapons, devices and cartridges for them belonging to citizens must be stored in metal boxes, safes specially made for storing weapons, at their place of permanent residence or in the places of temporary residence of the owners (cottage houses, etc.) ), which is reported to the police authorities. At the same time, weapons and devices must be discharged.

That is, the text does not specify the thickness of the metal, the type of lock and their number, the weight of the safe, fastening, etc. It follows that the safe, which the manufacturer positions as a weapons safe, fully falls under the description of the requirement.

This is from the point of view of the formally read text of the instructions. And from the point of view of common sense? Just a reminder that:
a safe structure made of thin metal up to 3 mm is quite easy for an attacker to damage with a sledgehammer, foam or other means of external influence;
a cheap lock is easier for an entry-level specialist to open;
a relatively light safe that is not fixed with anchor bolts to the wall or floor can be stolen from the premises;
a safe that other people know about automatically arouses the interest of fraudsters.
There is also such an interesting item in the instructions for storing safes:

7.7. Control over the storage of firearms, pneumatic, cold and cooled weapons, devices belonging to citizens is carried out by the police in accordance with the legislation. Inspection of the procedure for storing weapons by citizens is carried out by precinct police officers at least once every three years. A report is drawn up on the results of the inspection, which is attached to the personal file of the owner of the weapon or device. The requirements of police officers to ensure the safekeeping of firearms and ammunition for them, as well as pneumatic, cold and cooled weapons, devices, cartridges for them are mandatory for their owners. When completing the task, the precinct police officer is allowed to fill it out both for each individual owner and for a group of owners according to the list.

You have a weapon permit, accordingly, there is a special case about this in your district police station, so it is not exclusive that a police officer can visit you with a check. Using the concise information of paragraph 12.12, you can demonstrate any safe for storing weapons. But are you sure that it will meet the "requirements of police officers"? Tothings, they are not separately or additionally prescribed anywhere.

Therefore, we recommend to prevent all possible claims of the inspector by listening to our advice on choosing a gun safe:
the metal of the walls of the safe must be at least 3 mm thick, and the metal of the door - even more;
the lock must have a certificate of burglary resistance, and even better, when the safe itself has such a certificate of resistance to burglary;
the safe has holes in the back and/or in the lower walls of the structure, so do not neglect this - it will securely fasten the safe to the wall or floor;
place the safe in a safe place hidden from prying eyes, and do not tell anyone about it.
In this case, the inspector will simply have nothing to complain about. You will not be issued a fine, or you will not have to negotiate to limit yourself to a warning.

We hope that our tips have been helpful and timely if you are just choosing which gun safe to buy. For ease of use, gun safes have an internal compartment for cartridges and ammunition that can be closed with a key, canopies and hooks on the doors, bed frames, shelves, etc. It all depends on the number and parameters of your weapon. It can simply be a small but reliable gun safe. Visit our store of safes in Kyiv, where a variety of safes for storing weapons and expert consultants with many years of experience are waiting for you.