Project Update
OSCE contributes to strengthening Ukraine’s canine capacities in countering illicit firearms trafficking
- Issued on:
- Issued by:
- OSCE Secretariat
- Fields of work:
- Arms control, Border management
The illicit circulation and cross-border trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives present a significant security threat, which requires effective detection capabilities and well-trained law enforcement personnel. Canine teams play an important role in combating illicit trafficking at the borders and in other operational environments; therefore, the OSCE and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) merged efforts to support Ukraine in this area.
In September, at the Canine Centre of the Lithuanian State Border Service, the OSCE and Frontex launched a comprehensive training course in product scent detection for 16 dog handlers representing the State Border Guard Service and the State Customs Service of Ukraine. Covering the entire training cycle from dog obedience to scent recognition, the course program is aimed at strengthening the response of Ukrainian border management authorities to the increased risks related to illicit firearms trafficking. The thematic training modules will be delivered throughout 2026 and 2027 in line with the European dog training methodology.
“This course, in combination with other capacity-building and technical support, such as provision of specialized canine fleet and equipment, demonstrates the holistic nature of the OSCE subject matter assistance to the Ukrainian law enforcement sector, and its canine services in particular,” said Vadym Makogon, OSCE Project Officer during the course opening.
The OSCE implements this initiative as part of its extrabudgetary project "In support of strengthening the capacities of Ukrainian authorities in preventing and combating illicit trafficking of weapons, ammunition and explosives in all its aspects" funded by the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom.