Ukraine to adopt Italy's experience in protecting maritime borders

“Amidst the challenges and threats currently faced, including those arising after the annexation of Crimea, Ukraine is restoring the system of protection of maritime borders. A project to provide the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine with 20 modern patrol boats was launched at the Nibulon shipbuilding and repair yard in Mykolayiv city in July this year. At the same time, we also want to adopt the vast experience of the Coast Guard of the Republic of Italy in the fight against illegal migration, smuggling, drug trafficking, as well as in protecting the state border from illegal encroachments," Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov said during a working meeting with Vice Admiral Giovanni Pettorino, Commandant of the Italian Coast Guard in Rome, the Ministry’s press service informs.

The minister added that Ukraine was interested in adopting the experience of using large-capacity patrol boats to combat illegal border crossings, to establish cooperation between various types of intelligence and border surveillance (ground forces, navy, aviation units), and to direct the forces and equipment of the Border Guard Service. Italy controls half of the Mediterranean Sea waters, where more than 1 million migrants have been rescued in recent years, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine noted.

As reported, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine intends to implement with Italy a joint project on rescue ships construction.

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