Kyiv, 18 June 2014 – The eastern border of Ukraine became the frontline. Situation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions can only be stabilized if the border between Ukraine and Russia is brought under complete control. In the recent days Ukrainian army and the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) forces have achieved some success in regaining control over the border. This was reported by Sergey Astakhov, Assistant to the Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
Border guards are working to improve the protection and defense of the state border, which is being regained day after day by the ATO forces. “The last 24 hours have been more or less calm if we can call it that, considering constant attacks on border guard units. There has been no heavy shooting, no border breaches have been observed either. However, we have received reports of increasing numbers of unidentified military groups appearing in Russian territories near Ukrainian border. We are following up on these reports and together with the National Guard and the Armed Forces of Ukraine we are to counteract,” said the representative of the State Border Guard Service.
Answering the question about the construction of protective wall along the Ukraine-Russia border, Sergiy Astakhov believes that it will be next to impossible to implement this project under the current conditions. The main issue is lack of possibility to control some parts of the border. “The initiative put forward by Igor Kolomoyskyi is interesting and promising. However, it will be very hard to implement it right now. Part of the Ukrainian border is now under fire from mortars and grenade launchers. This is why it is necessary to secure the border as a Ukrainian territory and then build the protective wall,” said Mr. Astakhov.
Sergiy Astakhov also spoke about the cooperation between the State Border Guard Service and the European Union in the area of technical reinforcement of the Ukrainian state border. According to Mr. Astakhov, border guards have been working together with the EU since 2003 to implement changes in their work in compliance with the European standards. EUR 30M have been spent to date to purchase vehicles, portable surveillance devices, radio stations and passport control equipment. Another two tranches are currently available on the State Treasury account. “These funds will be used to reinforce state border defense. We are expecting to receive EUR 21M. Right now border guards are in urgent need of armored patrol vehicles, small arms, bullet-proof vests and other personal and collective protection equipment,” said Sergiy Astakhov.
