SIMFEROPOL, December 28. /TASS/. The construction of a 60-kilometer fence on the border with Ukraine has been completed in Crimea, the press service of the Federal Security Service’s (FSB) Border Service for Russia’s Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol reported on Friday.
"The planned construction of engineering structures and the installation of an intricate system of alarm sensors has been completed in the area of the Isthmus of Perekop. Planning and developing the documentation started in 2015. The construction and installation of equipment ended in December 2018," the report says.
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 being 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.
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 seeks 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.
The government procurement web site earlier reported that setting up this barrier in Crimea would cost more than 200 million rubles ($2.9 million). The fence’s construction should provide high durability, long service and should be cost effective when in operation as well. The service life guarantee of the fence and its equipment is at least 10 years. The structures are resistant to tough climate conditions (including humidity of up to 98% and air temperatures of up to plus 65 degrees).