Jump to content

FSB Border Service of Russia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Border Service of the FSB of the Russian Federation
Пограничная служба Федеральной службы безопасности Российской Федерации
Emblem of the FSB Border Service
Emblem of the FSB Border Service
Flag of the FSB Border Service
Flag of the FSB Border Service
Agency overview
FormedJune 12, 1992
Employees170,000 (2017)[1]
Jurisdictional structure
Federal agencyRussia
Operations jurisdictionRussia
Size20,241 lineal kilometers
General nature
Specialist jurisdiction
  • National border patrol, security, integrity
Operational structure
HeadquartersLubyanka Square 2, Moscow, Russia
Agency executive
Parent agency FSB of Russia
Child agency
Website
ps.fsb.ru

The Border Service of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (abbr. BS of the FSB of the RF, Russian: Пограничная служба Федеральной службы безопасности Российской Федерации, abbr. ПС ФСБ России) is a branch of the Federal Security Service of Russia tasked with patrol of the Russian border.

The terms Border Service of Russia (Russian: Пограничная служба России) and Border Force of Russia (Russian: Пограничные войска России) are also common, while in English, the terms "Border Guards" and "Border Troops" are frequently used to designate this service. The Border Service numbers around 170,000 active members,[1] which includes the Russian maritime border guard units (i.e., the coast guard).

Mission

[edit]

Responsibilities of the Border Service of Russia include:

  • Defence of the Russian national border, prevention of illegal crossing of the land and sea border by people and goods (smuggling)
  • Protection of economic interests of the Russian Federation and its natural resources within land and sea border areas, territorial waters and internal seas, including prevention of poaching and illegal fishing
  • Combat any threats to national security in the border area, including terrorism and foreign infiltration

History

[edit]

The Soviet Border Troops were the border guard of the Soviet Union, subordinated to its subsequently reorganized state security agency: first to Cheka/OGPU, then to NKVD/MVD/MGB and, finally, to KGB. Accordingly, they were known as NKVD Border Troops and KGB Border Troops. Unlike border guards of many other countries, Soviet Border Troops were a centralized force including also the marine units of the Border Troops (i.e., a coast guard).

Russian Federation

[edit]

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, General Colonel Ilya Kalinichenko was both the last chief of the Soviet Border Guards and the first chief of the succeeding Russian force.[2] Colonel-General Vladimir Shlyakhtin, the first new Russian commander, said the situation when he took command was "chaotic."[3]

Border guards of the FSB Border Directorate in Kaliningrad Oblast, 2011

The Federal Border Service of Russia (Russian: Федеральная пограничная служба, romanized: Federal'naya pogranichnaya sluzhba, a.k.a. FPS) was created on December 30, 1993, as a separate government agency. The agency retained some old traditions, most notably the dark green-coloured uniform and Border Guards Day (an official holiday commemorated by celebrations of ex-servicemen). The First minister of the FPS was Andrei Nikolayev, a young and outspoken general who later became deputy of the State Duma.

Russia also took over the Soviet Border Guards which were stationed outside of Russia most notably in southern Tajikistan, in order to guard the border with Afghanistan, until summer 2005. On the Afghan-Tajik border on many occasions they fought drug-traffickers and Islamic extremists. At the same time, however, there were repeated reports that the entry of drugs across the border had been facilitated by officials. Armenia's closed border with Turkey and open border with Iran were also supervised by Russian border guards.

In July 1993, after the tragic death [ru] of Russian border guards at the 12th outpost on the Tajik-Afghan border, Russian President Boris Yeltsin dismissed General Shlyakhtin.[4] Colonel General Andrei Nikolayev was soon appointed Commander of the Russian Border Troops [ru] and Deputy Minister of Security of Russia [ru].[5] In December 1993, his position was renamed, and he became Commander-in-Chief of the Border Troops of the Russian Federation [ru]. In December 1994, the Federal Border Service of the Russian Federation was created, and Nikolayev was then appointed its first director. He was promoted to Army General by a presidential decree dated November 17, 1995.

By the late 1990s the previous Soviet organisation was no longer adequate. General Nikolayev publicly said in July 1997 that a "fundamental restructuring" has already begun, including a "demilitarization" of the Border Service.[6] The Red Banner Baltic Border District had already disappeared in the process of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania breaking away from the Soviet Union. By Decree of the President of Russia dated August 1, 1998, the North-Western Border District was renamed the North-Western Regional Directorate of the FPS.[7] All other border districts were also abolished.

On March 11, 2003, Russian president Vladimir Putin changed the status of the Border Service from a separate agency into a branch of the Russian Federal Security Service. The new conversion took effect on July 1, 2003. The current head of the FSB Border Service is General Vladimir Pronichev. The Border Service of Russia is tasked with a defence of one of the longest national borders in the world.[citation needed]

Border Guards Day in Moscow's Gorky Park, 2008

In April 2012 Vladimir Pronichev announced that the country was planning to build 20 frontier posts in the Arctic region. Reasons for this development can be found in the increased abilities to explore hydrocarbon deposits in the north. It will also give Russia an ability to patrol and service the Northern Sea Route.[8]

In July 2014 Ukraine opened a criminal case against the head of the FSB Border Service Vladimir Kulishov; he was accused of financing "illegal military groups" in Eastern Ukraine who at the time fought against the Ukrainian army.[9][10][11]

Border guard cadets in the modern dress uniform of the FSB Border Service, 2021

Vladimir Kulishov claimed in May 2024 that about 70% of the weapons and equipment used by his service is "modern" (100% in the "operationally difficult" directions). He also said that more than 50 types of technical means were taken for supply by the service in 2023–2024, including UAVs, means to detect and counter them, coastal radars and thermal-optical imaging systems. About 150 domestic systems are in use.[12]

In August 2024, Ukrainian forces crossed the border into Kursk Oblast during the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine resulting in part of the oblast becoming under Ukrainian occupation.[13] Conscripts from the FSB Border Service unsuccessfully defended the Russia–Ukraine border in the Kursk Oblast.[14]

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, announced in early 2025 that as of March 1, 2025, Armenian Border Guards would have relieved all remaining Russian border guards along Armenia's borders.

Structure

[edit]

Command

[edit]
See also: Commanders of the border troops USSR and RF

Lineup

[edit]
Russian border guards are patrolling the Poland–Russia border on the Vistula Spit, 2011
Naval ensign of Russian Coast Guard watercraft since 2008

Changes in the regional structure of the Border Service, instead of ten regional border offices (see the old FPS structure) for the new scheme includes 7 regional border offices (in the federal districts) and 30 border offices in 2005. Includes the Coast Guard of the FSB Border Service.

Regional border offices:

As adopted by presidential decree No. 457, dated April 23, 2001, the following educational institutions form part of the BS-FSS:

Enterprises, institutions and organizations which are subordinate to the Border Service:

  • Medical and health institutions
  • Repair plant
  • Parts logistics, technical, and other support

Foreign operations

[edit]
The shoulder patch of the Group of Russian border troops in Tajikistan

Armenia

[edit]

The basis for the deployment of Russian border guards in Armenia is an interstate agreement concluded on September 30, 1992. The border department of the FSB of Russia in Armenia includes four border detachments: one in Gyumri, Armavir, Artashat and Meghri, as well as a separate checkpoint at the Zvartnots International Airport. The maintenance of about 4.5 thousand Russian border guards in Armenia is financed from the budgets of both states. Russian border guards also guard the borders of Armenia with Turkey and Iran.[15][16] Between 1992 and 2025, Russian border guards officially protected Armenia's borders with Turkey and Iran.[17] After that, border protection was transferred to Armenian border guard units.[18]

Tajikistan

[edit]

From 1992 to 2005, there was a Group of Russian Border Troops in the Republic of Tajikistan. Border guards were repeatedly and credibly suspected of being involved in the drugs trade across the Tajik-Afghan border.[19] Senior officers arranged transfers by military aircraft.

Abkhazia

[edit]

In Abkhazia, the base of the coast guard patrol ships of the Russian FSB Border Guard Service is located in the seaside town of Ochamchire. The goal is to assist the Abkhaz Navy in ensuring the security of its maritime borders.

Equipment

[edit]
Russian border guards with a SVD and AKS-74s (in the photo, one of them is equipped with a GP-25) of the Air Assault Maneuver Group of the 32nd Novorossiysk Border Detachment of the FSB North Caucasus Regional Border Directorate, 2004

Aircraft

[edit]

Helicopters

[edit]

Firearms

[edit]
  • Emblem of the Federal Border Service of Russia in the 1990s
    Emblem of the Federal Border Service of Russia in the 1990s
  • Flag of the Federal Border Service of Russia from 1999 to 2003
    Flag of the Federal Border Service of Russia from 1999 to 2003
  • Flag of the FPS Border Troops from 1999 to 2003
    Flag of the FPS Border Troops from 1999 to 2003
  • Flag of the FPS Border Aviation Service from 1999 to 2003
    Flag of the FPS Border Aviation Service from 1999 to 2003
  • Flag of the FPS Marine Guard from 1999 to 2003
    Flag of the FPS Marine Guard from 1999 to 2003

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Paper" (PDF). info.publicintelligence.net. 2017.
  2. ^ Bennett 2002, p. 1.
  3. ^ Bennett 2002, p. 2.
  4. ^ Bennett 2002, p. 12.
  5. ^ "Архивированная копия". Archived from the original on 2018-06-19. Retrieved 2017-06-22.
  6. ^ "Head Of Border Guards Announces "Restructuring;" Expresses Concern About Military Reform And Budget Cuts". Jamestown Monitor. 1997-07-15.
  7. ^ Report on the results of the audit of the use of federal budget funds allocated for the maintenance of the North-Western Regional Directorate of the Federal Border Service of the Russian Federation
  8. ^ "Russia to create 20 frontier posts in Arctic". Russia & India Report. 16 April 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  9. ^ "Ukraine calls businessman and Russian defense minister 'accomplices of terrorists'". wqad.com. 22 July 2014.
  10. ^ "Ukraine opens criminal case against Russian Border Service chief - Xinhua - English.news.cn". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014.
  11. ^ "In Ukraine opened criminal case against Dmitry Kiselyov". Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2014-07-22.
  12. ^ "Российские пограничники используют современное вооружение, заявили в ФСБ". Новости MOS.NEWS (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  13. ^ Weiss, Michael (14 August 2024). "How Ukraine Caught Putin's Forces Off Guard in Kursk — And Why". New Lines Magazine.
  14. ^ "As Ukraine advances in Kursk, families of north Russian conscripts cry mercy". The Barents Observer. 15 August 2024.
  15. ^ Прощание с Пянджем. Российские пограничники покидают Таджикистан
  16. ^ Российские пограничники убили турецкого пастуха, обстрелявшего их на территории Армении.
  17. ^ "Armenian Guards Assume Control of Armenia-Iran Border". 30 December 2024.
  18. ^ "From March 1, solely Armenian Border Guard Troops to control all entry and exit points of Armenia, announces Pashinyan". 20 March 2025. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  19. ^ Moore, Kathleen (May 7, 2004). "Tajikistan: Heroin Busts Tie Russian Military To Drug Trade". Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty.

References

[edit]
  • Bennett, Gordon (2002). "The Federal Border Guard Service" (PDF). Conflict Studies Research Centre. (C107, March 2002)
  • Лубянка. Lubyanka. Органы ВЧК-ОГПУ-НКВД-НКГБ-МГБ-МВД-КГБ 1917–1991. Справочник, документы (Международный фонд Демократия, Москва 2003) - Authorities VCHK-OGPU-NKVD-NKGB-MGB-MVD-KGB 1917–1991. Reference documents (International Fund for Democracy, Moscow 2003)
  • Приложение No. 2 к Указу Президента Российской Федерации от 19 июля 1997 г. No. 732 [Annex 2 to decree of the President of the Russian Federation of July 19, 1997, No. 732]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons logo
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Border Guard Service of Russia.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=FSB_Border_Service_of_Russia&oldid=1350338093"