I can say with confidence that every second citizen of Ukraine trusts NGU - Mykola Balan
Today marks the 7th anniversary of the creation of the National Guard of Ukraine, a truly powerful paramilitary organization that conducts combat operations, ensures peace and tranquility on the streets of our cities. The commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, Colonel-General Mykola Balan, in an interview spoke about the tasks and challenges that faced the guards in 2020, and also shared the main areas of activity of the NGU in 2021.
- Could you tell us what the National Guard looks like today and how the approach to training soldiers has changed?
“The training system cannot be built only for one period - half a year or a year, it must be designed for many years. It was for this purpose that systems of modular training of personnel and units were introduced, clearly delineating individual and collective training. In recent years, it has completely changed: the training center of the Western ATO, the International Interdepartmental Multidisciplinary Center for the Training of Units (in the village of Stare, Kyiv region) have been created. The Institute of Instructors was created, which did not exist until 2014, the sergeant corps was built, the positions of teachers were introduced not only in universities, in particular in the Academy of NGU, but also in all training centers of the National Guard of Ukraine.
We pay great attention to building the educational material and technical base, which includes a variety of simulators and simulators. The exercises and trainings involve servicemen of military and law enforcement formations of partner countries. In 2020 alone, 8 multinational exercises were held jointly with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the armed forces of NATO and EU countries. These are “Guard 2020", “United Efforts 2020", “Rapid Trident”, “Sea Breeze”. Soldiers of the Joint Operational and Tactical Group of the Armed Forces of Canada in Ukraine (Operation UNIFIER) work with us on an ongoing basis.
A preparation system is a set of activities that cannot be suspended or considered as a result in the short term. It should be a system designed for 5, 10, 15 or 20 years, taking into account the development of society, analyzing one's own experience, studying the experience of other countries in personnel training, etc.”
- National Guard from the first days of the war. Now the NGU is participating in the operation of the United Forces. What tasks are assigned today to the units of the National Guard, which are located in the east of our state?
“As of today, several thousand servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine are performing tasks in the operation of the United Forces. If you look back 7 years, it all started with volunteer battalions, as well as personnel military, units and units of the National Guard of Ukraine, which, without exaggeration, were the first to go to the east of the state. Some went straight from training centers, some from permanent deployment points and from Maidan after brief training.
During the anti-terrorist operation in 2014-2015, the NGU performed various functions. Our units were located along the entire line of contact, they provided the movement of columns, the protection and defense of important state facilities, conducted the fight against illegal armed formations, sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the enemy, served at checkpoints and platoon strongholds.
After the end of the ATO and the introduction of the Joint Forces, the use of forces and means of the NGU also changed. Now several battalion-tactical groups together with the Armed Forces are serving on the line of contact, they have defined tasks. Guards also participate in countersabotage, perform tasks to protect critical infrastructure, especially important state facilities, carry out search activities. Also, soldiers of the NGU serve at checkpoints, checkpoints, carry out quarantine and search activities. Together with the National Police, the State Border Service, the State Emergency Service - measures to detect and defuse explosive objects”.
- The year 2020 was difficult for Ukraine and the whole world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition, there were forest fires and flooding in our country. Tell us about the National Guard's involvement in these processes.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has become a significant challenge around the world. A year ago, quarantine restrictions were introduced throughout Ukraine and, of course, the NGU as one of the components of the defense and security forces, as it was included in the fight against the virus. The National Guard provided its medical and rehabilitation center “New Sanzhary” to the first evacuees from Wuhan city to conduct the observation. Sanitary-quarantine posts were exhibited. The workload per employee has increased significantly. During the day, we deployed more than 10,000 troops to conduct quarantine events. In addition, the equipment of the National Guard was involved in the sanitary treatment of streets on the territory of Ukraine.
Separately, I would like to highlight the aviation of the National Guard. As soon as humanitarian aid arrived, protective equipment, disinfection, tests were delivered - prompt delivery to different regions of the country was necessary. Aircraft of the National Guard transported them to Odessa, Lviv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and from there they were delivered to health institutions by road transport of the National Police and helicopters of the National Guard.
We also had other challenges - fires in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and Luhansk region. At that time, we also carried out search activities to find the causes and arrest those involved in the arson.
In the summer of 2020, there was a significant flooding of territories in western Ukraine, which caused significant damage to homes, lands of citizens, and agriculture. NGU aviation was also involved to evacuate people, a mountain patrol company conducted a search for people who were probably destroyed by streams of water. Rescue operations were carried out, and together with the State Emergency Service, the guards cleared roads, riverbeds in Ivano-Frankivsk and Transcarpathian regions, and also provided assistance to the population of these regions.”
- How much has the material and technical base of the National Guard of Ukraine changed for 7 years?
“I will give an example. If in 2014, in order to apply the BTR, we had to either borrow it or urgently repair it, today we do not have a special problem with armored combat vehicles. The fleet of armored cars has expanded significantly. We received to equip the BTR-3E and BTR-4E of domestic production. As well as armored cars “Cossack”, “Varta” and “Novator”. New types of weapons of Ukrainian production are introduced under NATO standards, in particular, such as Fort, UR-10, UR-15. These are assault rifles, machine guns, automatic rifles and machine guns. In 2020, we have already equipped three units with new rifles, which have also been tested in the operation of the Joint Forces and adopted them, and they are already planned to be supplied to the troops. In the National Guard of Ukraine, artillery units armed with mortars and barrel artillery have been introduced.
Significantly expanded air defense capabilities. This is relevant, given that the National Guard of Ukraine is entrusted with the task of protecting especially important state facilities, as well as nuclear power plants.
The possibilities of aviation have also expanded significantly. In particular, due to the program of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine on the creation of the Unified System of Aviation Security and Civil Protection of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, we adopted Airbus H-225 helicopters and they continue to enter the National Guard of Ukraine.
Separately, I would like to highlight unmanned aviation. Squadrons of unmanned aircraft complexes have been created in the National Guard of Ukraine. They use modern devices that can work over long distances. They are used not only for the implementation of tasks as part of the operation of the Joint Forces, but also in other regions of Ukraine, in particular, in mountainous areas, in large settlements, rural areas, forest areas, where such a need arises.
- 2020 - the victory of not only the National Guard, but the victory of the whole Ukraine - the dismissal of the guard Vitaliy Markov. How did you feel as a commander, as a person who was directly at the court hearings when Vitaly was finally home?
“If a soldier fulfills his duties and defends the country, then the country must defend and protect its soldier. From the first days I was sure that the case of Markov is a custom-made business, which is very profitable for someone, but not for the patriots of Ukraine. The charges contained facts that could not concern a soldier of the National Guard of Ukraine. As for Vitaly Markov, this is one of the examples that the state cares, cares and defends its citizen. No person, no soldier should be held responsible unless proven guilty. Markov's guilt has not been proven. And in the fall of 2020, when the Court of Appeal in Milan found Senior Sergeant Marquis innocent, I realized that there is still justice and impartial justice.
We understand that the state played a significant role in the liberation of Markov. This is, first of all, the President of Ukraine - the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. A huge, key role was played by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and, in particular, Minister Arsen Borisovich Avakov. He, I would say, became the second father for Vitaly Markov. He communicated almost daily with Vitaly, went to the courts in Pavia, to Milan, supported as Minister of the Interior not only Vitaly himself, but also his family. The servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine also played a rather significant role - both those who served with him in 2014-2015, and the rest. They were also involved in the consideration of the case in the courts of Pavia, participated in experimental studies, which were conducted by investigative and operational teams, gave testimony. Banners in support of Markov were hung all over the country at all checkpoints of military units and units of the National Guard of Ukraine.
- To what extent will the return of the Marquis be a motivating moment for the soldiers of the National Guard?
“This is a motivating moment for all Ukrainian servicemen. They saw that the state does not leave its soldiers, but helps. The verdict of Markov in the Court of Appeal is the main goal of the aggressor state, to create such prerequisites for all servicemen of Ukraine to feel guilty. After the release of Vitaliy Markov, everyone realized that we know what we are fighting for and the truth is behind us.”
- What changes in the National Guard to expect in 2021?
“Now the NGU is finishing work on the Vision of the National Guard of Ukraine, that is, a development strategy designed for 10 years with clearly defined main objectives, the goal to which we must come.
We need to complete the reform started in 2020. We are talking about the transition to a new organizational and staff structure of the National Guard of Ukraine.
In 2020, this tower was made in the main management body of the NGU, and in 2021, territorial departments and brigades will be transferred to the new staff structure. In 2021, a significant emphasis will also be placed on the professional training of guards, on the improvement of the educational material and technical base.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NGU plans to increase the number of laboratories for testing servicemen, improve the capabilities of medical institutions of NGU.
The service for the protection of public order will continue according to the new model, which we switched to in 2019: providing servicemen with body cameras, modern transport for patrol.”
- Could you tell us about the level of confidence of the population in the National Guard of Ukraine?
“One of the factors of activity of any structure is the trust of the population. I would consider this a major factor for law enforcement agencies. According to the results of the latest research of the Razumkov Center, the level of trust of the population in the National Guard is 56%. I can say with confidence that every second citizen of Ukraine trusts NGU. And I, as a commander, am very pleased to note that.”
“I would like to congratulate the personnel of the National Guard of Ukraine, veterans of the National Guard of Ukraine, members of families of guards, volunteers on the Day of the National Guard of Ukraine! The principle and motto of the National Guard is “honor, courage, law.” This is the task of every guard! I wish everyone good health and a peaceful sky.”
Department of Communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
