Forensic-Legal Analysis of Ukraine’s Draft Law ‘on the Right to Civilian Firearms’ in the Context of European Legal Standards

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive forensic-legal analysis of the Draft Law of Ukraine ‘On the Right to Civilian Firearms’ (No. 5708), with a focus on its compatibility with international legal standards and, in particular, with the provisions of EU Directive 2021/555 on the control of the acquisition and possession of firearms. The study examines the draft law through the lens of legislative harmonization, assessing its regulatory framework in key areas such as civilian firearms marking, registration, traceability, information exchange, secure storage, distance selling, and access restrictions. Special emphasis is placed on the role of forensic examination and criminal proceedings in ensuring effective firearms control. The article identifies legal inconsistencies and structural gaps that hinder alignment with European Union law and argues for targeted revisions to enhance compliance.