By thinning its military formations near the Ukrainian border, Russia hopes to calm world fears about its intentions. But it is leaving behind a far more insidious, deadly, and destabilizing force than mere border presence. It is infiltrating into Ukraine experienced military intelligence officers, battle-hardened spetsnaz, huge amounts of ordnance, and an assortment of mercenaries, “cossacks”, thugs and predators from all corners of Russia. They are entering through some of the 40+ border crossings and checkpoints along the Ukrainian-Russian border.
Unless Ukraine plugs the various transit points and secures its borders, it can expect ever-increasing chaos, destruction, and human casualties. For starters, the number of legal border crossings should be halved and the remaining ones heavily fortified and guarded – with back-up support from the military and National Guard. There is little to be gained in conducting anti-terrorist operations if Russia continues sending fresh terrorists and armaments to replace those ousted or destroyed at great cost by Ukrainian soldiers.
Ukrainian authorities must never again tolerate incidents of forced or subverted border crossings at these checkpoints. Ukraine’s land border with Russia extends for almost 2000 kms., only part of which may require close monitoring. A number of teams should be assigned to survey sections of the border and identify current and potential crossing points usable by Russian vehicles. The placement of obstructions and sensors (ditches, mines, traps, trip wires, buried cable, etc.) at these locations would detect and slow infiltrating vehicles long enough so that they can be destroyed or repulsed at the border.
In addition, extending from the border and continuing for a distance of 2-3 kilometers into Ukraine, a buffer zone must be established, also with a variety of sensors, to alert Ukrainian border guards to foot traffic within their assigned areas, and permit the initiation of immediate countermeasures. Guard posts should be stationed at intervals allowing for interdiction by aerial and land forces within the buffer zone. Drones, helicopters or light planes would also augment ground surveillance with cameras and None of this equipment is high tech or costly. None need be lethal (mine fields can be marked). And much of the equipment could already be in the Ukrainian inventory purchased on the open market, acquired from friendly countries, or manufactured in Ukraine. A force of 2,000 well-armed and equipped border guards with communications and aerial support could effectively prevent either the entry or the escape of terrorists and contraband.
Both Europe and the U.S. may be more willing to provide material, financial, and technical support for (defensive) border security than for offensive, advanced armaments. Such security on Ukraine’s border would have the dual advantage (for Europe) of suppressing smuggling, drug trafficking, and illegal migration into.
Once the border is secure, we can anticipate sizeable defections from terrorist units no longer able to escape, get medical care, or re-supply. These border controls, together with amnesty, rewards, and bounties, would make the mop-up operation manageable and less costly in lives and property. Support for “separatism” would be radically reduced as it becomes clear to the residents of both Luhansk and Donetsk that their respective “republics” can no longer rely on Russian support.
Unless we plug the leak as a top national security priority, we risk the loss of much blood and treasure in a futile attempt to keep the ship of state afloat…..at very little
George Woloshyn is a retired naval intelligence commander and former director of U.S. National Security Preparedness and a former director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Security Investigations.
