Photo from UNIAN

Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has said Ukraine is interested in Italy's experience in protecting maritime borders and fighting illegal migration.

During a working meeting with Commander of the Naval Coast Guard Headquarters, Admiral Giovanni Pettorino in Rome (Italy), Avakov said Ukraine was restoring the maritime border protection system. This includes the project to provide the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine with 20 modern patrol boats, launched at Mykolaiv-based Nibulon shipyard this July.

"At the same time, we'd like to gain vast experience of the maritime coast guard of the Republic of Italy in fighting illegal migration, smuggling, drug trafficking, as well as protecting the state border from illegal encroachments," the minister said.

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Avakov stressed Ukraine is interested in the experience of using large patrol vessels in countering illegal border crossing, coordination between various types of reconnaissance and border surveillance (land, sea, and aviation), as well as control of border guard forces.

In Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service is part of the Interior Ministry.