EU provides Ukrainian border guards with protective equipment against COVID-19

The European Union has provided personal protective equipment to Ukraine's State Border Guard Service (SBGS) under an EU-funded project "EU Support to Strengthening Integrated Border Management in Ukraine (EU4IBM)," the SBGS press service has reported.

"The European Union has transferred personal protective equipment to Ukraine's State Border Guard Service, which is the first contact point for travelers entering Ukraine. The list of equipment includes 1,000 protective face masks, 1,000 medical gloves, 1,000 goggles, 800 face shields, 700 medical isolation coveralls, 1,000 medical drapes, and 79 non-contact thermometers. The supply of personal protective equipment will contribute to the State Border Guard Service's ability to ensure the constant and safe treatment of people crossing the border and thus help perform border control functions in COVID-19 conditions. The assistance is provided under the EU-funded project 'EU Support to Strengthening Integrated Border Management in Ukraine (EU4IBM)'," the report reads.

According to the report, the total cost of assistance provided by the project implementer - the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) - is almost UAH 1 million.

While a general international travel restriction is in place in Ukraine, border guards continue to register special flights with Ukrainians returning home and foreign nationals who have a residence permit in Ukraine. A list of road checkpoints and cargo terminals at seaports that continue to operate under lockdown restrictions has also been identified.

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