Border guards are true to Oath, despite strengthening of moral and physical pressure of Russian military

Personnel assets of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine continue serving and remain true to oath of allegiance to Ukrainian people in Crimea.

Despite the fact that Azov-Black Sea regional command, Simferopol border detachment, Kerch Department of Frontier Service, Kerch and Sevastopol units of Maritime Border Guard are blocked, they continue serving at the Crimea checkpoint and Simferopol airport.

However the pressure of Russian military on border guards has recently increased significantly. There is a brutal use of force, the threat or use of weapons and intimidation tactics during snatching border units. Russian Special Forces are trying to exercise psychological pressure on the border guards and set an ultimatum demanding to submit new leadership of Crimea. They are actively trying to recruit personnel; require data of operational units and information about the staff. They are trying to learn confidential information about commanding officers of units. All of them are forced with persistent proposals for cooperation and formal employment.

We note that especially sharp seizure of units and the pressure on soldiers have began when head of the Crimean parliament Volodymyr Konstyantynov made the statement about intransigence of border guards and active opposition to the decision of the newly appointed government of Crimea.

Now, the courage and resilience of each soldier of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in Crimea allow them clearly perform tasks specified by laws and other legal acts of Ukraine, to avoid seizure of weapons and to exercise the control in checkpoints in accordance with the established order.