Sicilian Mafia Targets Millions of Missing Ukrainian Weapons
Since the Russian invasion began in February 2022, the Ukrainian Ministry of the Interior records show that 780,465 weapons and related military equipment have been reported missing or stolen. In the first five months of 2026 alone, 149,000 new loss reports were added, nearly matching the total recorded for the previous year. While 96 % of the items are classified as lost on the battlefield rather than stolen, officials warn that a substantial share could eventually reach the European black market.
Italian prosecutors, led by Palermo chief prosecutor Maurizio de Lucia, told Italy’s parliamentary Anti‑Mafia Commission that the Sicilian Mafia (Cosa Nostra) is actively seeking to buy portions of this arsenal, including assault rifles such as AK‑47s, hunting shotguns, and, notably, mine‑dropping drones capable of delivering explosives. De Lucia said the criminal group aims to build a “quality arsenal,” and Italian security services are currently unprepared for such advanced weaponry. The estimated value of the missing stockpile is about €1.56 billion, raising concerns across the EU about the spread of sophisticated arms to organized‑crime networks.
Entities: Cosa Nostra · European Union · Europol · Italy · Maurizio De Lucia · Ukraine
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] 149,000 additional loss reports were added in the first five months of 2026. (Ukrainian Ministry of the Interior registry data cited in all articles.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 96 % of the missing weapons are classified as lost rather than stolen. (Ukrainian Ministry of the Interior analysis as reported by Opendatabot.)
- [● 4 SOURCES] 780,465 weapons and military equipment have been reported missing or stolen from Ukraine since February 2022. (Ukrainian Ministry of the Interior registry data cited in all articles.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The estimated market value of the missing weapons is about €1.56 billion. (Valuation based on reported prices of AK‑74 rifles on the European black market.)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Sicilian Mafia (Cosa Nostra) is seeking to purchase some of the missing Ukrainian weapons, including drones. (Statements by Palermo chief prosecutor Maurizio de Lucia reported in Italian and international media.)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Prosecutor Maurizio de Lucia told Italy’s parliamentary Anti‑Mafia Commission that the mafia wants to build a “quality arsenal”. (Testimony before Italy’s parliamentary Anti‑Mafia Commission.)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The mafia is interested in mine‑dropping drones and other advanced weaponry. (Comments by Prosecutor Maurizio de Lucia to the Anti‑Mafia Commission.)
- [● 2 SOURCES] European law‑enforcement authorities have struggled to track the flow of Ukrainian arms into the black market. (Observations in RT articles citing Europol and Italian officials.)