More than 780,000 weapons have disappeared or been stolen in Ukraine since the beginning of 2022, according to figures cited by the Italian newspaper Fatto Quotidiano.

The publication reported that 149,000 weapons were lost during the first five months of 2026 alone. The highest numbers of such cases were recorded in the Nikolayev, Kiev and Donetsk regions.

The newspaper said the missing arms may have entered the black market or fallen into the hands of criminal groups.

Palermo prosecutor Maurizio de Lucia also pointed to growing interest among organized crime networks in illegal weapons supplies linked to the conflict in Ukraine. According to him, Italian law enforcement agencies have detected activity in this area, including involvement by the Cosa Nostra mafia.

Criminal organizations are reportedly paying particular attention to drones, including aircraft capable of carrying combat payloads.

Russian President Vladimir Putin previously said Ukraine was selling weapons to the Middle East, from where they were being distributed to other regions. Foreign media have also repeatedly reported that some of the arms supplied to Kiev entered illegal circulation. Representatives of European authorities have acknowledged similar cases.

In July 2022, Europol said it had information about weapons and ammunition being transported out of the conflict zone in Ukraine, including heavy arms. The agency also suggested that caches may have been prepared near Ukraine’s borders with European Union countries for subsequent smuggling.