MOSCOW, March 26. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday gave an order to the Federal Security Service’s (FSB) border service to strengthen protection of the country's border with Ukraine to prevent criminals from crossing while allowing refugees to enter without restriction.

"The Russian-Ukrainian border certainly requires special attention. The situation is difficult there. Thousands of people are fleeing from the long-running conflict in Ukraine’s southeast to cross into the Russian territory," Putin told a meeting of FSB leaders.

"It is important both to ensure further that refugees and cars carrying humanitarian cargo have unrestricted passage and to reveal those who voluntarily participated in punitive operations against civilians and who are now trying to cover up their tracks and planning crimes in Russia," he said.