Update: From Unobtainium to Maybe-Obtainium??? | Ukrainian Fort 232S 9mm | ATF Rule Change

A proposed update to ATF import regulations, published in the Federal Register on May 6, 2026, would dramatically reshape access to Ukrainian-made firearms in the United States. The rule removes Ukraine—and most other former Soviet republics except Russia—from the list of countries subject to an automatic, blanket denial of Form 6 permanent import applications. Instead of automatic rejection, each application would receive case-by-case review by the ATF, aligning firearm import policy with current U.S. State Department guidance that treats Ukraine as a key partner rather than a prohibited source. This change effectively ends a 1997-era prohibition that has kept Ukrainian arms off the American civilian market for nearly three decades.

One firearm that we examined at IWA 2026 in Nuremburg, Germany that could potentially be imported as a result of the rule change is the Ukrainian Fort 232S, a 9mm semi-automatic pistol variant of the Fort-230A submachine gun platform developed by RPC Fort, Ukraine’s state-owned small arms manufacturer.

Under current rules, any attempt to import the Fort 232S (or similar Ukrainian firearms) is automatically denied regardless of the sporting-purpose compliance or end-user documentation. The proposed rule eliminates that categorical barrier, allowing licensed importers to submit ATF Form 6 applications that would now be evaluated on their individual merits. Provided the pistol meets all other federal requirements—including the Gun Control Act’s “sporting purposes” test and some other requirements for import–the 232S might be on the market soon.

If finalized after the public comment period ends on July 6, 2026, the rule would not only potentially greenlight the Fort 232S but also signal a return to rationality in the U.S.–Ukrainian defense trade. Under the previous set of rules, Ukraine was treated the same way as North Korea.  Industry observers anticipate a surge of interest in RPC Fort’s lineup, potentially introducing innovative 9mm platforms to the American market while supporting Ukraine’s defense industry. Until the final rule is published, however, the Fort 232S remains unobtainable for U.S. civilians—making this regulatory shift a pivotal moment for both firearms enthusiasts and transatlantic security cooperation.