During a working trip to Washington as part of an official delegation led by the President of Ukraine, the Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Serhii Deineko met with Andrew Vogue, Director of the Nuclear Smuggling Detection Program (NSDD)

The head of the border agency noted that the Ukrainian side highly values ​​cooperation with the NNSA.

Andrew Vogue expressed hope that together with the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, cooperation in combating the smuggling of nuclear materials will continue in order to be ready for the various challenges that arise at this time.

During the meeting, the parties also discussed further steps of cooperation and the possibility of launching new initiatives, including on the arrangement of the state border and the provision of equipment for units that perform tasks in the area of ​​the exclusion zone.

It should be noted that cooperation between NNSA and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in combating smuggling of nuclear materials has lasted many years. In 2019-2021, American partners provided international technical assistance estimated at more than 325 million hryvnias. In general, within the framework of cooperation, radiation control systems were installed at international checkpoints across the state border, airports and ports within Ukraine.

The same systems were equipped in the EECP on the border with the occupied territories. With the support of the Program, the Border Guard Service of Ukraine has established a Training Center to Combat the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, which is part of the centers of the NSSC IAEA International Network. Another set of facilities has also been agreed with the American side, the installation of which is planned to be completed by the end of the year.