To help achieve the project's goal, the Survey will maintain a baseline dataset and produce regular unpublished reports on illicit arms, monitor public perceptions of arms proliferation and security, and prepare a consolidated public report on weapons proliferation and control efforts in Ukraine. In parallel, the project will promote information exchange and learning on small arms proliferation matters among CENSS and the Ukrainian Networking Group (UNG), which is a growing and inclusive network of Ukrainian practitioners, academics, and NGOs working on security issues supported by the project.
Work of the Ukrainian Networking Group (UNG)
The Ukrainian Networking Group (UNG) consists of scientists, journalists, judicial experts, and representatives of non-governmental organizations who specialize in issues relating to weapons research and community security. The UNG serves as a capacity-building mechanism, an experience exchange, and a knowledge dissemination platform for the Ukraine small arms and light weapons project.
- Capacity building: the UNG enhances its members’ capacity to design and implement activities that will contribute to the reduction of illicit small arms proliferation in Ukraine.
- Knowledge dissemination and public awareness: the UNG contributes to the dissemination of project outputs through its members’ networks to help raise awareness, increase understanding, and foster action on small arms-related issues.
The Survey supports the work of the UNG through training sessions on small arms-related issues, the provision of micro-grants for research, and mentoring opportunities tailored to the priorities and profiles of the members. The latest developments from the UNG can be found below.
Project highlights
- 4 June, 2025 - News from CENSS: Gun culture as a challenge for society: a roundtable discussion was held in Khmelnytskyi based on the results of an essay competition (in Ukrainian)
- 10-11 May, 2025 - News from CENSS: Student forum on constitutional law: dialogue on security, democracy and the future of the state
- 17 March, 2025 - News from the UNG: Presentation of research on criminal proceedings under Article 263 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine
- 6 December, 2024 - Annual conference of the Supporting Ukraine in Addressing Small Arms and Light Weapons Proliferation Risks from the Russian War of Aggression project
- 12 September, 2024 - Coordination and progress meetings in Kyiv
- 5 June, 2024 - News from CENSS: Training on the trafficking and possession of weapons in the EU and Ukraine for the project’s professional community
- 29 May, 2024 - Work from the UNG: A public service video campaign from IKAR
- 29 April, 2024 - News from CENSS: 'We are starting to introduce you to our security projects'
- 7 December, 2023 - News from CENSS: Webinar on the Threats of the Proliferation of Illegal 3D-Printed Weapons
- 18 October, 2023 - The Small Arms Survey and the Center for Security Studies (CENSS) joint press release on the Inception Meeting of the Ukrainian Networking Group—The Risks Of Illicit Small Arms And Light Weapons Proliferation
Implementation period: June 2023–December 2025
