Better vision for SBGS to prevent conventional and new threats at the green border

On 18 September 2024, the Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, Katarína Mathernová, and the First Deputy Head of the State Border Guard Service, Volodymyr Nikiforenko, jointly cut a ribbon at the handover ceremony for 5 cutting-edge border surveillance complexes. The equipment, with a total value of 2.2 million euro, was procured by the EU4IBM-Resilience project, funded by the EU and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development.

The surveillance complexes supplied will allow SBGS operators to efficiently monitor the green border areas at distance by the use of thermovisual technology and sophisticated algorithms of image analysis. Mounted on vehicle chassis, the complexes will be extremely mobile and rapidly deployable. Thanks to automated drone modules, they will ensure an even more extended coverage, especially in cases of wooded or mountainous terrains. A more efficient surveillance will help gather more accurate data and ensure more relevant and faster dispatching of patrols in case of violations or threats.

“EU is proud to contribute to the security of Ukraine, which is also the security of Europe. This is our shared challenge, and we stand together with Ukraine. Today, we are handing over 5 cutting-edge surveillance systems. They will help SBGS cover larger sections of the border and have better intelligence for more informed and faster reactions to various risks. This delivery helps building a multi-component, complementary, and integrated surveillance system for greater security of the border”, stated the EU Ambassador Katarína Mathernová during the handover ceremony.

The introduction of the European Border Surveillance System (Eurosur) across the EU gave start to the gradual transformation from a resource-heavy physical border protection approach based on large numbers of deployed personnel to a more sophisticated method making use of risk analysis, information exchange, high-technology border surveillance systems, and criminal intelligence. Ukraine, as an EU close partner and now a candidate country, has also taken this path. The use of mobile surveillance equipment, as suggested by the analysis and recommendation produced by the EU4IBM project, can ensure an immediate effect and a prompt response to illegal cross-border activities already now while the next long-term phase calls for the installation of stationary surveillance and alarm systems along the whole border.

“SBGS and the project team jointly worked on the technical specifications for these complexes to make sure that we use the best, most advanced technologies available on the market. The surveillance vehicles were designed to cover larger sections of the border, including hardly accessible areas. Both the chassis and the unmanned aerial vehicles have thermovisual and day-and-night vision cameras. These are state of the art equipment; same or even better than those used by Frontex”, commented Vyacheslav Toporov, EU4IBM-Resilience Project Manager.

To make the complexes operational 24/7 anywhere, including distant uninhabited areas, they are additionally equipped with satellite communication terminals and reserve power supplies. The extended warranty of three years will help maintain the equipment functional without any additional investment from SBGS.

The handover of the surveillance complexes will shortly be followed by a training to ensure that the advanced equipment is properly used to the maximum capacity possible. The training for operators will be complemented by a training on service and maintenance to guarantee the longevity and proper functioning of the equipment for years. Specially prepared trainers will be able to train additional personnel and spread the knowledge and skills in future.

The delivery of the mobile surveillance complexes is part of the overall EU support to Ukraine in the area of the integrated border management (IBM) and migration, which has been in place for over 10 years. The full-scale aggression against Ukraine considerably shifted the focus towards trade facilitation, however the EU4IBM and EU4IBM-Resilience projects also responded to urgent equipment needs of SBGS by providing thermovisual gadgets, communication devices, personal protection and other equipment to the Ukrainian border guards. The ongoing support also includes equipment and capacities for border checks and border surveillance, capacity building for the IBM Coordination Centre and IBM Strategy implementation, alignment to the EU Acquis and harmonization of approaches and practices with EU Member States.