Putin has been extremely positive about border services, which come under the Russian FSB. Today is the Russian Border Guard holiday and Putin reiterated the importance of border guards as attacks around the Ukrainian-Russian border intensify.
While these mainly involve drone strikes in border areas, there have also been deeper attacks deep into Russian territory in recent weeks. For example, an oil pipeline northwest of Moscow was attacked yesterday.
‘Necessary’
Putin called the ability to move quickly for soldiers, equipment, civilians and cargo “necessary”. “Food, humanitarian aid and building materials must reach the new members of the Russian Federation,” the Russian president said.
With these new members, Putin refers to the four regions of Ukraine annexed by Russia; Kherson, Zaporizhia, Luhansk and Donetsk. Russia reclaimed these four areas in September last year based on referendums, which the Western world dismissed as bogus. Russian troops have only partial control over those regions.