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Russia tightens security on border with Ukraine

Director of the Russian Border Service Vladimir Kulishov says the Russian side is making all efforts to prevent extremists from entering Russia
First Deputy Head of Russia's Federal Security Service, Director of the Russian Border Service Vladimir Kulishov ITAR-TASS/Alexei Nikolsky
First Deputy Head of Russia's Federal Security Service, Director of the Russian Border Service Vladimir Kulishov
© ITAR-TASS/Alexei Nikolsky

SOCHI, June 04. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian units in the regions bordering with Ukraine have tightened the security regime, an official told reporters on Wednesday.

"Border services have this practice: when the situation in border areas aggravates, neighboring states tighten security," First Deputy Head of Russia's Federal Security Service, Director of the Russian Border Service, Vladimir Kulishov said. "I think we'll make all efforts to prevent extremists from entering Russia," Kulishov said.

When asked about the number of refugees from Ukraine who had already crossed the Russian border, he said the figures changed daily. "We note an increase in the number of arrivals. Russian regions bordering with Ukraine have set up refugee centers and launched work to accommodate those people," the Border Service director said.

Border security measures were discussed by participants in the 71st session of the Council of Border Troops Commanders of the Commonwealth of Independent States which had opened in Sochi. Officials from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are taking part in the event.

Opening the meeting, Kulishov noted that the Ukrainian representatives had been invited but that they had been unable to come.

Commenting on Ukraine's accusations of destabilizing the situation on the border, he said "such rhetoric is inadmissible and does not reflect the spirit of border cooperation." "To my mind, the accusations of destabilization are incompetent," he added.