File:President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Bohdan Khmelnytskyi National Academy of the State Border Guard Service on 3 May 2024 - 1 04.jpg

English: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Bohdan Khmelnytskyi National Academy of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

The Head of State got acquainted with the changes introduced to the work of the institution after the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. The Rector, Major General Oleksandr Lutskyi, pointed out that the Academy had enhanced its military training. During a conversation with lyceum students, cadets and teachers, Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the functions of the SBGSU had significantly expanded due to the war. Besides defending Ukraine's borders, the border guards are also mastering various types of equipment and performing combat missions on the front line. In particular, drone operators have shown effective results at the front. "Our border guards have proven themselves at the highest level. They performed all combat missions with utmost courage and professionalism. The Border Guard Service is expanding its skills because of the war. Of course, when the war is over, all these skills will not vanish. And this number of electronic warfare and drone operators, all these specialists should stay and ensure the protection of Ukraine's modern border in time of peace," the President said. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also inspected the machinery used by Ukrainian border guards today. These include armored vehicles, MLRS, artillery, drones, and electronic warfare equipment. Since the beginning of the war, 9 combined detachments have been created on the basis of the Academy, and they have performed combat missions near Kyiv, Hostomel, Bucha, Moshchun, and on the eastern border of our country.

For their courage and heroism, 234 servicemen of the Academy were presented with state awards, and 10 graduates received the titles of Hero of Ukraine and the Orders of the Golden Star, 7 of them posthumously.