Situation on Crimean border remains complicated but controllable - Ukrainian State Border Service
The Ukrainian State Border Service has reinforced its reserves and is ready for any developments on the border with Crimea, Ukrainian State Border Service chief Viktor Nazarenko said.
"I think that the new wave of Russia's hybrid war against Ukraine and its people is seen in Crimea. You know that this is temporarily occupied territory and we pass only Ukrainian citizens or foreign citizens with relevant permits from the Migration Service through this line. Mainly Ukrainian citizens travel," he said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
The situation "remains quite complicated, but it is under the Ukrainian side's control," Nazarenko said. "After the recent conference hosted by the Ukrainian president, we have updated the duties of our units, and we have updated the way of our interaction with the Ukrainian armed forces and other law enforcement agencies; after all, we are a segment of the state's general defense system," he said.
Ukrainian border guards have mobilized their reserves, including heavy weapons, and are continuing this work, Nazarenko said. "We have also done other job both with the local population and our personnel to improve our combat capability in this area. I want to assure you and the citizens of Ukraine that we are prepared for any developments, and these developments could be very nonstandard for us," he said.
Commenting on Russia's accusation that Ukraine allegedly shelled Crimea, Nazarenko said that there was no shelling from Ukraine's mainland, it is for sure.
He said that this provocation has concrete goals – to raise confrontation on this territory.
