The border agency conducted another selection as part of the New Leadership Faces (NLF) project, marking the first full-scale war selection process.

Following the selection, the competition committee ranked 16 candidates for the positions of chiefs of border units and 19 candidates for the positions of deputy chiefs of units – chief of staff.

During the ceremony summarizing this stage, the Head of the State Border Guard Service signed an order appointing four leaders of the selection as the first deputies of the chiefs of units – chief of staff in the Odesa, Sumy, Chop, and Chernivtsi border units.

The NLF project is conducted with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine and the IOM Representation in Ukraine. The project allows for an objective selection of candidates – motivated, professional, and ethical. Participants are ranked based on results from exams in professional disciplines, Ukrainian and foreign languages, general ability testing (IQ testing), physical and firearms training tests. The selection process also includes qualification interviews, polygraph examinations, and monitoring of psychological suitability.

Since September 2019, a total of 11 selections have taken place within the NLF project, involving 256 officers, with more than 70 officers with the highest ratings already appointed to leadership positions.

"The main confirmation of the project's success is that all the winners of the selection, appointed to leadership positions, are truly professionals whose actions serve as a worthy example," emphasized the Head of the State Border Guard Service, Serhiy Deyneko. He noted that 25 participants from previous selections were awarded state honors, with three of them receiving the highest honor – "Hero of Ukraine." Unfortunately, two of them, Yuriy Yurchyk and Roman Gakh, received the honor posthumously.

During the ceremony summarizing the 11th stage of the project, the head of the border agency thanked the partners who help resist the enemy and build a new Ukraine. He highlighted that, thanks to support based on common values and the desire for Ukraine's victory, the State Border Guard Service has become an integral part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and continues to enhance its combat capabilities. "We realize that the main guarantee of Ukraine's future security is its integration into the European Union and NATO. In view of this, we are implementing the best global practices," emphasized Serhiy Deyneko.

"The NLF project has justified itself and received high praise from domestic and foreign colleagues, and most importantly, from the personnel of the agency. Its idea incorporates innovative approaches to competitive selection for the formation of a ranked list of candidates," noted the First Deputy Head of the State Border Guard Service, Volodymyr Nikiforenko. According to him, the preparation of selection committees, involving international and independent experts, was carried out according to the best practices of international business schools. According to Volodymyr Nikiforenko, the NLF is the State Border Guard Service's response to the public demand for the rule of law, the creation of a modern and effective law enforcement system. It is perhaps the only algorithm in Ukrainian practice for personnel selection with clear rules, preventing falsification of results or influence on them, where the entire selection process is recorded on video, and its sequence is determined by drawing lots.

"This model of the selection process essentially becomes exemplary for it to be used further by other agencies in Ukraine," noted the Chargé d'Affaires of the United States in Ukraine, Robert Niblock. He emphasized that the United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine and will continue to support the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, particularly in implementing initiatives to promote integrity and professionalism.

"You have someone to look up to," Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleksiy Danilov, emphasized when addressing the leaders of the selection. Oleksiy Danilov pointed out that the head of the border agency arrived at the ceremony directly from the front lines, where he was involved in the situation, addressing issues that concern border guards currently in the trenches of Donetsk. "Your family – the family of border guards – is the strongest thanks to your relationships, your leadership, and, most importantly, thanks to you directly. Stay that way, take care of yourselves and take care of your subordinates," urged Oleksiy Danilov.

"The State Border Guard Service is at the highest level among all the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine," emphasized the Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine during the ceremony. Oleg Nemchinov highlighted that the participants in this selection are combat officers. Today, the State Border Guard Service not only protects the peaceful border but also does everything every day to reduce the number of enemies on Ukrainian territory, repels drone attacks, destroys enemy armored vehicles, and performs many tasks that a border agency wouldn't typically do in normal conditions.

"Decisions ahead that are not written in any textbook, which you will have to make. And, I am sure, these will be the right decisions to counter aggression," addressed the participants of the selection the Chairman of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, Oleksandr Zavitnevych. He thanked the leadership of the State Border Guard Service for implementing such a project even during the war. "This is important! And this is an example for the entire security and defense sector," he emphasized. In addition, officers-border guards who are now People's Deputies of Ukraine, Yuriy Zdebsky and Pavlo Sushko, also members of the Board of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, came to congratulate their comrades from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Oleksiy Serhieiev emphasized the high professionalism of Ukrainian border guards and noted that they have to restrain the aggressor on the front, protect state borders with Russia and Belarus, while effectively guarding peaceful borders, as repeatedly emphasized by colleagues from EU countries. In these extremely challenging conditions, the border agency continues its development path.

"It is very important to introduce new principles in personnel policy, based on transparency, openness, professionalism, competence, and, most importantly, honesty," emphasized the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs.

"We place special hopes on the successful New Leadership Faces project," said the commander of the Brigade of the Guards of the Steel Border Advance Hero of Ukraine Valeriy Padytel, who, thanks to the NLF project, demonstrated his leadership qualities and headed the Donetsk Border Unit, whose personnel subsequently participated in the defense of Mariupol. "For me, as a commander, it is crucial to have not just officers but real professionals under my command, who know their business and can skillfully manage subordinate units, care for their subordinates, and protect them in battle. The New Leadership Faces project allows selecting such leaders with strong moral-business qualities and the ability to effectively conduct combat operations," concluded Valeriy Padytel.

Summing up the results of the selection, the Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine addressed the future chiefs of units and chiefs of staff with words of guidance.

"With significant experience in leading a border unit, I know for sure that you will not have time for hesitation and indecision. Do not hesitate, do not deviate from the path, and confidently move towards the goal. But be sure to doubt. Even when the decision seems obvious, the information is true, everything can turn out to be completely different. And one more thing – you will never find out in advance whether success or failure awaits you until you try. You are smart, talented, highly professional, ambitious, and brave. Therefore, the only thing I can say in conclusion is – you will definitely succeed! Success to you!" addressed Serhiy Deyneko to the new faces of the leadership cadre.