MOSCOW, September 20. /TASS/. Forces of the Federal National Guard Troops Service of the Russian Federation may start protecting transportation passages and the energy bridge in Crimea as soon as they begin operations, Oleg Borukayev, the Deputy Director of the National Guard of Russia, told TASS on Tuesday.
"At present, any danger to the transport passage and the energy bridge that may emerge is being studied. After a comprehensive assessment of the security threats is completed, a decision will be taken on the protection of these facilities either by Rosgvardiya forces, or by integrated forces and means," Borukayev said.
At the moment the transport passage is protected by private security firms as construction is underway there now, the official explained. The energy bridge is already protected by the National Guard of Russia, among others, on a temporary basis, he added.
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Since Crimea’s reunification with Russia in March 2014, a team was set up, and tasked with protecting public order and ensuring security on the territory of the Black Sea peninsula, he pointed out.
Other important facilities controlled by this team are the Sevastopol research reactor and the Artek international children’s camp on the Black Sea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the creation of the National Guard in reorganizing the Interior Ministry troops at a meeting held on April 5. Its key functions are the control of weapons turnover and the fight against terrorism and organized crime, Putin said.