“We are launching a platform for dialogue between security sector agencies and international partners”, – Ihor Klymenko
Today, on January 27, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine hosted a meeting of the “Law Enforcement” Sectoral Working Group co-chaired by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the European Union Advisory Mission to Ukraine.
Ihor Klymenko, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, addressed the guests and told them in more detail about the development of a new security architecture in Ukraine with the help of the bodies of the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
“The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine is a large-scale agency responsible for security inside the country and providing quality services to citizens. We are already creating a new security architecture for post-war Ukraine. The security component is a part of the Internal Resilience Plan, announced by the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the Independence Day of Ukraine”, – said Ihor Klymenko.
In particular, the Minister shared information about one of the largest projects of the Ministry of Internal Affairs – the launch of the 112 Service in Ukraine. Operators receive calls from citizens. The requests are then forwarded to the necessary units to help in a particular emergency.
In addition, people with hearing or speech impairments can call 112. They will communicate via video link with operators who speak sign language. 65 out of 261 operators speak foreign languages: English, Polish, Spanish, Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Korean, Japanese, French and Georgian.
“Prompt response is a key indicator of the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies. The 112 system, covering almost the entire country, has become a single window for citizens to receive assistance. No barriers and no queues. Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro. Communication centres are already operating here. In late spring, we will open one in Odesa”, – the Minister added.
Additionally, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine focused on the issue of countering illegal arms trafficking. Ihor Klymenko told the partners that since June 2023, the Unified Weapons Register has been operating in Ukraine, allowing for tighter control over firearms trafficking in the country, while simplifying the process of registering them for citizens.
“The interagency Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition is in operation. I would like to highlight our cooperation with the OSCE and the EUAM in this regard. We are jointly achieving certain results and hope to continue our cooperation”, – the Minister added.
The Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine also informed the audience about the work of the Ministry in the field of searching for persons missing under special circumstances. Ihor Klymenko noted that a large number of employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Police are involved in the search and identification process.
The subject of information security was a high priority on the agenda of the event, as it is of particular importance in the context of the full-scale war and constant information pressure from the enemy. In particular, the participants discussed the role of strategic communications in strengthening public trust in government institutions and countering enemy propaganda.
“Information is an integral part of state security. It is for this reason that we are developing a system of strategic communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Reliable and prompt informing of the society, timely response to fakes, disinformation and hostile propaganda are all part of the country's resilience", – said Ihor Klymenko.
During the report, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine focused on the work of each unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs system - the National Police, the State Border Guard Service, the State Emergency Service, the National Guard, the State Migration Service and the Main Service Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine – which forge the security for the state.
These include documenting war crimes, evacuation, stabilisation measures, safe educational environment, fighting crime, civil protection, modernisation of warning systems, development of a fund of protective structures, demining, border protection, migration, rehabilitation, and the veteran policy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
The Head of the European Union Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform, Rolf Holmboe, also took the floor. He emphasised that the main objective of the Sectoral Working Group (SWG) is to attract and coordinate support from partners in the civilian security sector in a way that is as effective as possible:
“I thank you, Minister, for giving us an overview of the impressive engagements by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and its’ agencies and for sharing your strategic thoughts on the way ahead. Not everyone may fully realise how critical your work is for ensuring the security and stability of the country every single day. You are fighting at the front, you carry out critical stabilisation tasks in frontline areas, and you work for the safety and well-being of all Ukrainians all over the country. It is an honour for me to attend this first SWG meeting with ambassadors and partners, and all of us stand with you in achieving our shared goals. We will continue to provide the necessary assistance to ensure this Sectoral Working Group can perform its tasks effectively”.
After the event, Ihor Klymenko, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, presented the thematic subgroups of the Sectoral Working Group, pursuing activities in four strategic areas, namely:
- strengthening emergency response,
- crime prevention and community safety,
- border security,
- rebuilding – restoration – accessibility.
“I would like to once again express our gratitude to your governments for the support you have provided to Ukraine over the past three years. Your assistance has become an integral part of our resilience and ability to face challenges. We highly appreciate your contribution to strengthening security, supporting reforms and implementing key projects in the civilian security sector. Together, we are creating the basis for a secure future”, – Ihor Klymenko said in his address to the partners.
During the informal communication, the heads of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ bodies had the opportunity to discuss in more detail the urgent needs and perspectives of cooperation with international partners. This dialogue mode allowed them to focus on specific challenges of the security sector. This communication contributed to strengthening partnerships and better understanding of common goals.
It should also be noted that the “Law Enforcement” Sectoral Working Group is a platform for dialogue and coordination of interaction between Ukrainian security sector agencies and international donors, focused on combining efforts to provide international support in the context of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and building international cooperation in the long term, including during the period of post-war recovery and the establishment of a sustainable and just peace.
Communications Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
