Law that permits civilian Ukrainians to kill occupants comes into force (document)

A law on the right of civilians to use weapons to resist armed aggression by the Russian Federation has come into force in Ukraine.The Press Office of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine reported. "The Law of Ukraine "On Ensuring the Participation of Civilians in the Defense of Ukraine" came into force, which gives civilians the right to resist armed aggression by the Russian Federation using any weapon. The document applies during martial law," the document read. On March 9, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed law No. 2114-IX, which was adopted by Verkhovna Rada on March 3, 2022.The document states that civilian Ukrainians, as well as foreigners and stateless persons legally staying in Ukraine, can legally obtain and use weapons and ammunition and use them against the military of the aggressor country."Civilians are not responsible for the use of firearms against persons committing armed aggression against Ukraine," the law states. 

Civilians can also take part in countering the armed aggression of Russia or other countries, using their own award weapons, sporting weapons, hunting smoothbore, rifled or combined weapons and ammunition to it.At the same time, civilians are obliged to hand over the received firearms and unused ammunition to the National Police no later than 10 days after the martial law in Ukraine was cessed or terminated.