State-run Ukrinmash has denied accusations brought by the international non-government Amnesty International human rights group, claiming that the company illegally supplied machine guns and mortars to South Sudan via the United Arab Emirates under a contract signed in 2014.

"We may confirm that specified Contracts in no way were realized (namely, №5/61-К from 22.10.2014, and IGG/Ukrinmash/2014/1399/5/47), and no movements of goods and services were performed," the company said in a statement posted on its website.

"The contact was not fulfilled because the State Export Control Service of Ukraine had not given permission," Ukrinmash Director General Serhiy Sliusarenko told Interfax-Ukraine on Monday.

"Despite that the UN Security Council has not imposed an absolute embargo on arms trade with South Sudan, Ukraine and Ukrinmash fully adhere to the declared policy of securing regional and international security and stability," the company assured.

Ukraine and all Ukrainian state companies adhere to all international norms and rules, including Arms Trade Treaty (Wassenaar Arrangement), it added.

Ukrinmash is a state-run foreign trade investment firm and a leading Ukrainian special exporter. It has been working on the international arms market since 1991. In 2010, it became part of state-run Ukroboronprom Concern.

As Interfax-Ukraine reported earlier, Amnesty International earlier claimed Ukraine was involved in weapons shipments to South Sudan in 2014 between a Ukrainian state arms producing company and a company based in the United Arab Emirates.

"…The weapons in question form part of a previously undisclosed 2014 contract between a Ukrainian state arms company and a UAE-based company to procure US$169 million of weapons on behalf of South Sudan. These include thousands of machine guns, mortars, rocket propelled grenades and millions of rounds of ammunition," the NGO said on its website on September 25.