The number of gun crimes in Ukraine has increased dramatically since war broke out in the east. Experts say the spread of the black market has made buying weapons in Ukraine cheaper and easier, and this coincides with a wave of violence all over the country.According to the General Prosecutor’s Office, the number of weapons-related crimes last year tripled to a record 2,523, representing a 231 percent increase over the previous year.

Moreover, the number of such crimes in 2015 will probably surpass last year’s record. There have been 2,494 weapons-related crimes in the first half of this year alone.