The Department of the State Guard of Ukraine (DSGU) will now be responsible for guarding Ukraine's embassies in foreign countries, a well informed source has told Interfax-Ukraine.
“The decision on transferring the functions of guarding Ukraine’s embassies in foreign countries from the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine to the Department of the State Guard of Ukraine is being prepared,” the source said on July 28.
This decision will be formalized in early fall, the source said.
According to the source, the necessity of this step was “caused by analysis of the current situation when life suggests what must be done to improve security.”
The State Guard Department is a specialized state law enforcement agency and was formed on Jan. 15, 1992.
The main tasks of the State Guard Department are guarding the President of Ukraine and senior officials of the government as well as protecting administrative buildings and facilities in state ownership (the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine etc).
The State Guard Department is also responsible for guarding the heads of foreign countries, parliaments and governments, heads of international organizations, as well as members of their families present in Ukrainian territory.
