EU upgrades communication capabilities of Ukrainian border guards

On 13 October 2023, the EU-funded project “EU Support to Strengthening Integrated Border Management in Ukraine – Resilience (EU4IBM-Resilience)” implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, handed over 500 sets of mobile radio stations with accessories to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS). The total value of the communications equipment is over half a million euros.

The EU4IBM-Resilience project, which aims to contribute to the resilience and reinforcement of the border management in Ukraine by strengthening the capacities of Ukrainian IBM agencies in the context of war, provides support to the IBM stakeholders in the country through a range of means. Enhancement of technical capacities of the Ukrainian border services is one of the project’s key initiatives financed by the European Union.

“Strengthening capabilities of the Ukrainian border management agency is key for Ukraine’s resilience and security, especially during the full-scale war. By providing SBGS with the necessary tools, we lay a solid foundation for an effective fight against smuggling, human trafficking and other illicit activities at the borders between Ukraine and the EU member states”, emphasises Asier Santillán Luzuriaga, Head of Section “Good Governance and Rule of Law” at the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

The deployment of the 500 radio stations would ensure that various units scattered along the border are connected and able to communicate effectively, enabling swift coordination and responses to any potential threats or emergencies along the green border and at the crossing points.

“To effectively prevent and combat illicit activities at the border, rapid action and response from SBGS personnel is essential. Given the extensive length and geographical intricacies of the Ukrainian border, seamless communication between units is of paramount importance”, notes Arunas Adomenas, EU4IBM-Resilience Team Leader.

The project’s technical experts assessed the needs and prepared technical specifications for the radio stations paying special attention to their compatibility with the existing SBGS communication architecture and intending to propose an up-to-date product, while taking into account potential security vulnerabilities associated with the use of such equipment.

“The handover of the mobile radio stations proves the tailored approach of the EU to its contribution to bolstering the effectiveness of border management in Ukraine. We appreciate the efforts of our partners,” states the colonel Mykola Lushchyk, Head of Department of Telecommunication and Information Systems at SBGS, “not only for supplying our personnel with modern equipment but also for sharing good EU practices needed to transform SBGS into a flexible institution capable of adjusting its resources to the emerging needs”.

Today’s delivery of technical assistance represents one of the long-term tangible results of the work on Business Process Analysis and Reengineering (BPAR) conducted by the preceding EU4IBM project. The BPAR methodology helps both simplify the processes and find solutions to enhance their technical side. In total, 25 business processes were analysed, and recommendations on their improvement were formulated. Most of these recommendations remain valid during the wartime, and therefore their implementation supports the resilience efforts of the Ukrainian border management agencies as much as the overall development of the Integrated Border Management in Ukraine.

Background information: The project “EU Support to Strengthening Integrated Border Management in Ukraine –Resilience (EU4IBM-Resilience)” is funded by the EU and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). The project is aimed at building the resilience of the Ukrainian border management agencies during wartime, as well supporting further reforms to approximate the border management system of Ukraine to the EU standards and best practices in line with the Integrated Border Management Strategy of Ukraine adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers on 24 July 2019. The project runs from December 2022 until May 2024.

For additional information, please contact Ihor Serheiev at Ihor.Serheiev@icmpd.org.