Russia has finished building a high-tech security fence along Crimea's border with Ukraine, the press service of the Federal Security Service’s (FSB) Border Service for Russia’s Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol reported.
The border structure consists of several types of barricades with a length of more than 60 km and several hundred various types of sensors, both hidden and out in the open, as well as equipped with video surveillance systems, including imaging IR equipment.
One of the systems is based on vibration sensors. They go off when an intruder approaches the fence and transmit information through the linear part of the barrier to the duty officer in the form of an audible warning with a graphic display of the number of the alarm section. It is also possible to determine the direction in which the state border violator is moving. The second system is based on radioray sensors. A night-vision security camera activates when an intruder trespasses into the detection zone, turning on a video feed and an alarm signal for the duty officer, followed by audible warning and a display of the section’s number and video, TASS reported.
The border service explained that the use of these systems on the Crimean part of the border is necessary due to various threats, such as attempts by groups of saboteurs from the neighboring state to infiltrate Crimean territory. In addition, the barrier seeks to deter attempts to organize the illegal trafficking of weapons, munitions, goods, cargoes, tobacco and alcohol products, fuel and lubricant materials, drugs and psychotropic substances. This fence also seek to thwart breaches of the state border and its regime on the part of Ukrainian citizens for utility purposes. Similar systems for state border protection are successfully used in Russia’s northern and Far Eastern areas, as well as in other highly volatile areas on Russia’s borders.
Deputy director of the Institute of the CIS Vladimir Zharikhin, speaking with Vestnik Kavkaza, explained that Crimea citizens will feel a lot safer thanks to the new security system.
"This is not about introducing a tighter regime for citizens of Ukraine crossing the border. It was made to stop unsanctioned border crossing by terrorist groups and those involved in speculations. Therefore, for the peninsula citizens' life will be safer. And if the Ukrainian authorities do not take any actions, nothing will change for the citizens of Ukraine,” the expert said.
The deputy dean of the Faculty of Global Economics and International Affairs of the Higher School of Economics of the National Research University, Andrei Suzdaltsev, in turn, stressed that the Russian side was forced to build this border fence. "It will not affect the situation on the peninsula, because the main communication, as well as electricity, food and water supplies from Ukraine has been cut off," he explained.
According to the expert, some associate the Crimean wall with the wall, which is being build between America and Mexico by U.S. President Donald Trump, but this is a regulatory issue. "Strengthening the border is expensive: the cost of one kilometer of the fence with all the equipment may reach $1 million. It is expensive and not always necessary. In this case, the neighboring state officially declared Russia an enemy at the level of the law, adopted by the Verkhovna Rada. Ukrainian officials constantly declare their readiness to use weapons against Russia, speaking of war, dream about taking back Crimea, or hitting the Crimean Bridge with missiles, or even attacking Central Russia. Of course, there’s still a long way from words to deeds for them. But there is a moment of political propaganda and attempts to draw other countries into conflict with Kiev, including the United States and NATO. And with such a threat we are supposed to defend our territory," Andrei Suzdaltsev said.
"In addition, we demonstrate concern for security and our sovereignty. Therefore, we do the right thing. But there will be no negative consequences for the Crimean population," he assured.
