NEWSWATCH AFP: Ukraine bid to shut out Russia with border ‘wall’ falters.

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

AFP covers Ukraine’s unfolding efforts to fortify its border with Russia with defensive structures.

… the ambitious project to seal up Ukraine’s porous 2,000-kilometre (1,200-mile) frontier with its ex-Soviet neighbour was announced in March 2014 after Moscow seized … Crimea ….
… over a year later, only a small fraction of the $250-million (225-million-euro) project that Kiev hopes could help withstand a Russian invasion has been built.
* * *
… the ‘wall’ is not intended to be a monolithic concrete barrier but … a highly sophisticated system, combining defence measures with modern electronic surveillance ….  * * * The project will include ‘… combat systems … to destroy the enemy’s military vehicles and manpower’ ….
* * *
‘It is necessary to keep building the hi-tech border to prevent terrorists, arms and drugs coming in from the Russian side,’ Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk told border service officials ….

click here for AFP: Ukraine bid to shut out Russia with border ‘wall’ falters

 

Comment