Actions of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine against Russian Troops in the Crimea at the Beginning of the Russian Aggression in 2014

Abstract

The purpose — to characterize the actions of Russian troops and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in Crimea at the beginning of the Russian aggression in 2014. Today, Ukrainian historiography lacks special studies on the history of the SBGSU during the Crimean confrontation (February — March 2014).

The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, impartiality, as well as the use of methods of analysis, synthesis, historical-systemic, historical-chronological, involving a wide range of official and unofficial sources.

The main results. The main efforts of the Russian armed forces against the SBGSU were aimed at seizing border crossing points and military camps of border guard units. The main purpose of such actions was to paralyze the system of state border protection in Crimea. Establishing their control over the border guard units gave the occupiers the opportunity to quickly transfer their military units, weapons and military equipment from the territory of the Russian Federation to the depths of Ukrainian Crimea. The practical significance of the achieved results. During the confrontation in Crimea, the Russian aggressor used hybrid warfare methods against Ukraine. Therefore, in the future, the generalized historical experience will provide an opportunity to form an appropriate scientific basis necessary to create an effective model of protection (defense) of the state border in the context of possible armed conflicts that may be waged using hybrid methods. Prospects for further studies. Study of the socio-political situation in the southeastern regions of Ukraine after the attempt annexation of Crimea, and the development of active hostilities in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the spring and summer of 2014.