Border guards were given the right to shoot down intruder drones without warning and intercept their control
In the near future, the State Border Service will begin work on the procurement of means that will allow detecting drones and intercepting their management.
“In recent years, the number of uses of unmanned aircraft for illegal activities has increased,” said the head of the department of the organization of the border service Sergey Voronyi. He noted that with the help of drones, violators mostly transport smuggled cigarettes, but it is possible that drones could be used for other illegal purposes. In this regard, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine initiated a number of amendments to the regulations, which were supported by the highest authorities.
Recently, amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine” came into force on improving the procedure for the use and application of coercive measures, military equipment and weapons by border guards. And in August of this year, certain additions were made to the Government Resolution “On Border Regime”. In particular, amendments to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine obliged the owners or operators of aircraft to inform the border department about the planned flight in the border controlled area.
Amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine” allowed border guards to use weapons and special equipment against violators drones.
“Soldiers of the State Border Guard Service have the right to use firearms in order to also damage or destroy aircraft flying within the border zone, over or near our boats, ships, supply vessels, protected objects, including checkpoints and checkpoints, places of deployment of border outfits, if such flights are carried out in violation of the established rules. At the same time, I want to emphasize that in this case the weapon is used without warning,” comments Serhiy Voronyi.
He noted that the specialists of the State Border Service studied the experience of the EU countries, the United States and Israel on the use of means that allow intercepting controls and forcibly planting unmanned aerial vehicles. Now Ukrainian border guards have also received the legal right to use such means.
Press service of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine
