This was stated today during the All-Ukrainian Forum by the Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

This was stated today during the All-Ukrainian Forum by the Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

“Of course, the main challenge for Ukraine remains the aggression of the Russian Federation. And we all had the opportunity to feel the growing range of military threats on this section of the border and in the direction of the territories occupied by Russia”, he said, recalling that Ukraine's border 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 reaction units, which have the necessary weapons and training to conduct hostilities.

“Our units also provide security in the area of Joint Forces Operation ​ and on the administrative border with TOT (temporarily occupied territories) of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and operate in close cooperation with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other law enforcement agencies”, said the head of the State Border Guard Service.

Along with Russian aggression, there is a wide range of other threats on the Ukrainian border today that have been changed significantly over the past decade. Among them "the threat of terrorism, subversive activities, illegal migration (especially transit), drug smuggling and illegal movement of goods, especially excisable groups, to the countries of the European Union.

“However, in spite of everything, combining our national capabilities and cooperation with our international partners allows us to create the necessary resources to combat both cross-border crime and deter the enemy”, said Serhiy Deineko.

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 activities on the borders with Ukraine and this is the result of Ukraine.

“Border guards from neighbouring 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 stressed.

He noted that the agency has established an effective cooperation with border and law enforcement agencies of neighbouring EU countries and international partners. This allows to the exchange the information, provide the proper control of international traffic and the effective response to current challenges, including the prevention of the spread of COVID-19.

The Head of the State Border Guard Service also outlined the main priorities of international cooperation. Among them are joint control at checkpoints, joint patrols at the border and the functioning of joint contact points.

Serhii Deineko stressed the need to increase the maritime and aviation component, create an “intelligent” technical system of state border protection, and put into operation elements of the Integrated Migration Management Information System.

Among other things, the involvement of foreign partners was discussed.

Serhii Deineko noted that the United States of America plays a key role in providing assistance. Thanks to their support, a modern UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) operator training complex has been created. The infrastructure of the Marine Guard units is also being arranged with the prospect of receiving boats, equipment and appropriate equipment. With the support of the United States, the Border Guard Service of Ukraine is implementing personnel management projects, developing special purpose and rapid response units, introducing modern technologies for testing members of the international movement, and opportunities for detecting nuclear smuggling.

“And the support of international partners in the implementation of certain tasks and further development of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine is extremely important for us”, - emphasized the head of the border guard agency.