Law enforcers have plan to keep illegal migrants coming from Belarus out of Ukraine - SBU

Ukrainian law enforcers and security officials are set to act jointly to not allow illegal migrants to penetrate the country’s border from neighboring Belarus if such attempts arise.

That’s according to Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Ivan Bakanov who spoke at a briefing following a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council on November 10, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"I’d like to assure you that the SBU, jointly with other competent authorities, is undertaking all necessary measures to ensure that the border is locked. We must all unite and act to make sure the things that our German colleagues offer us don’t happen," Bakanov said.

He assured that the president keeps the issue under personal control. "Therefore, believe me, there’s a plan in place. This is an action plan to join our efforts and prevent illegal migrants from entering Ukraine," the SBU chief stressed.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Nils Schmid, a member of Germany’s Bundestag with the Social Democratic Party, suggested involving Ukraine in resolving the refugee problem on the border between Poland and Belarus. The lawmaker believes the EU could reach an agreement with Ukraine to ensure that the latter accepts the illegal migrants to remain on its territory while their asylum applications are being considered. Thus, he claimed, a "controlled route" to Poland would be created for migrants.

According to Polish border guards, as of November 8, up to 4,000 people, amassed in the area near Poland’s border, are seeking to get to the EU from Belarus.

Photo: State Border Guard Service of Ukraine