OSCE strengthens border management and training capacities of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine

The OSCE strengthened Ukraine’s capacity to identify and manage border-related crises in line with national and international legal standards, operational protocols and ethical principles through a specialized training course for representatives of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGSU).

From 27 to 31 July 2026, the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) organized the course "Crisis Management at Borders and Training-of-Trainers" in Kraków, Poland, for 22 mid- and senior-level officers from the SBGSU. The activity formed part of the OSCE’s continued support for strengthening border security and management capacities across the OSCE area.

The course marked the third deployment of the OSCE-led Mobile Training Team for the SBGSU, bringing together experts from Greece, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and the INTERPOL I-Force Project.

Throughout the five-day programme, participants explored key aspects of border crisis typologies, core crisis management principles, response planning and co-ordination mechanisms. They also took part in a scenario-based table-top exercise simulating a cyberattack targeting frontline border infrastructure and information and communication technology systems. The exercise enabled participants to apply crisis management principles in a realistic operational environment while strengthening decision-making, inter-agency co-operation and response capabilities.

“Professional education, continuous training and the exchange of best practices are essential for building a modern, resilient institution. That is why this programme is so important. Your support strengthens not only Ukraine’s border security but also the security of the wider European region. What you learn here this week will have a lasting impact, and by sharing your knowledge and experience with others, you will contribute to a stronger, more resilient State Border Guard Service of Ukraine,” said Ambassador Yurii Vitrenko, Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna.

The course also reinforced the importance of continuous professional development and knowledge-sharing in strengthening institutional resilience and preparedness for increasingly complex cross-border challenges.

“Strengthening crisis management capabilities is a continuous process of building resilience, enhancing professional skills and promoting effective approaches to managing complex situations. Through this programme, participants were able to exchange knowledge and support further capacity development within their institution,” said Dragica Vucinic, Border Management Officer at the OSCE TNTD Border Security and Management Unit.

By combining operational expertise with adult learning methodologies, the course supports the SBGSU in further strengthening its ability to prepare for and respond to complex border incidents, while promoting respect for international humanitarian law, fundamental rights, and a gender- and age-sensitive approach to border security.

The training was organized within the framework of the OSCE extrabudgetary project Training and Deployment of OSCE Mobile Training Teams to Address Challenges in Identifying the Cross-Border Movement of Foreign Terrorist Fighters and Other Cross-Border Crimes in the OSCE Area – Phase II, funded by Finland, Germany and the United States of America.