Serhiy Deineko: “Ukraine starts with the security of its borders”
He noted this today during the All-Ukrainian Forum “Ukraine 30. Security of the country” Head of the State Border Service of Ukraine.
“Of course, the main challenge for Ukraine remains the aggression of the Russian Federation. And all of us were able to feel the growth of the spectrum of military threats on this section of the border and in the direction of the territories occupied by Russia,” he said, recalling that the border of Ukraine with the aggressor state is almost 2.3 thousand km.
He noted that the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has increased its military component in the form of rapid response units, which have the necessary weapons and training to conduct combat operations.
“Our units also provide security in the area of the Joint Forces and on the administrative border with the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and operate in close cooperation with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other law enforcement agencies,” the head of the State Border Guard Service said.
Along with Russian aggression, today on the Ukrainian border there is a wide range of other threats that have changed significantly over the past decade. Among them: the threat of terrorism, subversive activities, illegal migration (especially transit), drug smuggling and the illegal movement of goods, primarily of the excisable group, to the countries of the European Union.
“However, in spite of everything, the combination of our national capabilities and cooperation with our international partners allows us to form the necessary resource to counter both cross-border crime and deter the enemy,” Serhiy Deyneko said.
The head of the State Border Guard Service said that in recent years, Ukraine's partners with the EU have noted a decrease in the level of illegal activity on the borders shared with Ukraine and this is the result of the Ukrainian side.
“Border guards from neighboring EU countries stressed that if most of their external borders were as secure as the border with Ukraine, they might not worry about security,” the Head of the Service said.
He noted that the department has established effective cooperation with border and law enforcement agencies of neighboring EU states and international partners. This allows the exchange of information, ensures proper control over international traffic and responds effectively to current challenges, including to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Also, the Head of the State Border Guard Service outlined the main priorities of international cooperation. Among them, joint control at checkpoints, joint patrolling at the border and functioning of joint contact points.
Serhiy Deineko stressed the need to increase the maritime and aviation component, create an “intelligent” technical system of state border protection, and commissioning elements of the Integrated Information System of Migration Management.
Among other things, the involvement of foreign partners was discussed.
“Only last year, the State Border Guard Service received assistance for 360 million hryvnias,” the head of the department said.
Serhiy Deineko noted that the United States of America plays a key role in providing assistance. Thanks to their support, a modern complex of training of UAV operators has been created. The infrastructure of Marine Guard units is also being equipped with the prospect of receiving boats, equipment and appropriate equipment. With the support of the United States, personnel management projects are being implemented in the border department of Ukraine, special purpose and operational response units are being developed, modern technologies for checking international traffic participants, and opportunities for detecting nuclear smuggling are being introduced.
“And for us it is extremely important to support international partners on the path of implementation of the specified tasks and further development of the State Border Service of Ukraine,” the head of the border department stressed.
