In the current security climate, effective border management increasingly relies on technologies that enable the timely detection of threats and a rapid response to them. This is precisely why strengthening the technical capabilities of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) is one of the key areas of support for Ukraine from the European Union under the ‘EU4IBM-Resilience’ project, implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).
The State Border Guard Service recently received a batch of modern seismic monitoring systems valued at €1.9 million. Their use will improve situational awareness among units and enhance monitoring of the situation, which is critically important in the face of constant security challenges.
The delivery marked the final stage of a comprehensive, multi-month preparation and implementation process, which involved not only the procurement of equipment but also its progressive testing and the training of personnel. In February 2026, a four-day factory test took place, followed in April by a five-day final test, which included testing the systems in field conditions, both day and night. Only after confirming compliance with all requirements were the systems handed over to the border guard units.
Particular attention was paid to personnel training as part of this support. In a Training of Trainers (ToT) format, 16 border guards – operators, engineers and future instructors – completed an intensive specialised course. This will not only ensure the effective use of the new surveillance systems but also build the agency’s internal capacity to train other specialists independently and, where necessary, scale up the systems.
“This approach ensures a long-term benefit from the support provided to our partners: the equipment is immediately integrated into the work of border guard units alongside trained personnel capable of maintaining and applying it in practice,” notes Vyacheslav Toporov, “EU4IBM-Resilience” Project Manager.
The “EU4IBM-Resilience” project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), aims to strengthen the integrated border management system in Ukraine. Support for the technical equipment and professional development of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine is a key element of this work.
