Border guards received the right to shoot down UAV violators and intercept control of them

Ukrainian border guards were given the right to shoot down violating drones and intercept control of them for forced landing, reports Militarnyi.

In the near future, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine will begin work on the procurement of instrumentalities that will allow detecting drones and intercepting control over them, according the press service of the State Security Service of Ukraine.

“In recent years, the number of unmanned aerial vehicles used for illegal activities has been increasing”, said Serhiy Voronyi, Head of the Border Guard Service Organization.

Serhiy Voronyi pointed that with the help of drones, violators mostly transport smuggled cigarettes, but it is possible that drones can be used for other illegal purposes. In this regard, the State Border Service initiated a number of changes to the legal acts that were supported by the highest authorities.

Recently, amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine” on improving the procedure for using and applying measures of coercion, military equipment and weapons by border guards came into force.

In August this year, some additions were made to the Government’s Resolution “On the Border Regime.” In particular, the amendments to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine obliged the owners or operators of aircraft to inform the border division about the flight planned in the border-controlled area.

Fighting Violator Drones

Amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine” allowed border guards to use weapons and special equipment against drones violators.

“State Border Guard Service servicemen have the right to use firearms for the purpose of also damaging or destroying aircraft that fly within the border lane, above or near our boats, ships, security vessels, protected objects, including checkpoints and checkpoints at the war zone, places of dislocation of border troops, if such flights are carried out in violation of the established rules. At the same time, I want to emphasize that in this case the weapon is used without warning”,- says Serhiy Voronyi.

Colonel Voronyi noted that the experts of the State Border Service studied the experience of the countries of the European Union, the United States and Israel on the use of equipment that allow intercepting controls and forcibly land unmanned aerial vehicles.

In December, the State Border Guard Service purchased 60 DJI Matrice 300 drones for 50 million UAH, which should be involved in the protection of the border of Ukraine.