Ukrainian border guards improve anti-fraud skills at joint EUAM-Frontex workshop
December 06, 2024
In today’s world, cross-border crime knows no borders. For Ukrainian border guards, staying one step ahead means staying alert and well trained. To achieve this goal, the European Union Advisory Mission to Ukraine (EUAM) and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) organised a professional training to equip officers with the necessary skills to detect and deter fraud, ensuring the flow of legitimate travel and trade while keeping borders secure.
On 3-4 December, 14 officers from the Southern Regional Directorate of the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) of Ukraine participated in the workshop on combating document and vehicle fraud. The training, which took place at the Palanca Border Crossing Point (BCP) near Odesa, provided practical tools and up-to-date techniques to help officers stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated cross-border crime.
Led by Frontex experts and EUAM advisors, the sessions were specifically designed to bring Ukrainian border control procedures in line with EU standards – an important step as Ukraine progresses towards European Union integration.
“This training is valuable in terms of strengthening Ukraine’s border security capabilities,” said Felix Bacauanu, Frontex document expert and trainer. “By equipping border guards with modern tools and knowledge, we’re enabling them to protect both Ukraine and the EU from the evolving threats of cross-border crime.”
The workshop wasn’t just about lectures. Participants explored real-life scenarios and learned how to identify forged security features on documents, detect morphing techniques and verify vehicle identification numbers. Practical exercises using seized fraudulent documents and vehicles brought the theoretical sessions to life, giving officers the confidence to apply these techniques in their daily work.
“Joint workshops such as this are part of a broader mission to improve the skills of first line officers at border crossing points,” noted Aristeidis Stamoulis, EUAM’s Senior Border/Integrated Border Management Adviser. “With Ukraine’s EU candidate status, it’s more important than ever to help the country adopt EU best practices. Our close cooperation with Frontex and other international partners is key to achieving this.”
The event concluded with a review of key lessons learned and a discussion on future training initiatives. The success of this workshop underlines the Mission’s commitment to strengthening Ukraine’s resilience against cross-border crime and modernising its border management systems. For the Ukrainian officers involved, the skills they have acquired are not only of direct benefit to their work, but also a significant step in Ukraine’s journey towards deeper integration with the EU.
