Ukrainian security forces were afraid to open fire on a Russian helicopter
Ukrainian security forces are afraid that their actions will provoke Russia into a massive attack.
The head of the State Border Service of Ukraine, Major General Sergei Deineko, stated this in an interview with RBC Ukraine, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
He was asked why Ukraine had not responded to the alleged violation of its airspace by a Russian helicopter in the Sumy region in mid-March (see Russian Mi-8 alarms Ukrainian border guards ).
“Firstly, the helicopter flew into Ukrainian territory at a distance of about 50 meters and was on our territory for less than one minute. In order to shoot down a helicopter you need a portable anti-aircraft missile system. Not all of our border guards are armed with portable air defense systems.
In addition, I would like to look first at those “couch warriors” who call for shooting down such helicopters, and then at their reaction if Russia began full-scale open armed aggression in response to “a helicopter that was rudely shot down by Bandera’s followers, lost its orientation and accidentally flew into 50 meters,” said the chief border guard of Ukraine.
In addition, he recalled that the border with Russia is not demarcated.
“What if our serviceman made a mistake? It's quite possible, right? Because there is a human factor and the border, let me remind you, is not demarcated. And this could be a provocation to start a war. Who would bear this responsibility? Therefore, we are forced to take a very balanced approach to all our actions.
Every border guard who goes out to guard the border, especially in the Russian sector, must have iron self-control. This is what I constantly tell my subordinates. Only if we are one hundred percent sure that armored vehicles have entered the territory of Ukraine, or an armed unit of the Russian Armed Forces has entered, only then will we use weapons and destroy them. I guarantee you that in this case the aggressor will be destroyed,” Deineko assures.
He says that Russian border guards were informed about the incident by letter.
“True, Russia’s position is always the same – “they aren’t there” and “it didn’t happen.” That is, they did not confirm the fact of crossing the border,” added the head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
Ukrainian security forces were afraid to open fire on a Russian helicopter.