The aggressiveness of people smugglers from Ukrainian organised groups on Slovakia’s eastern border is growing and they are more often armed, reports the Slovak Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák.
“I am afraid there is a real risk that it may come to a conflict which can have tragic consequences”, said the minister. This risk could also be exacerbated with the news that violence in Ukraine is on the increase and a peaceful solution to the country’s woes seems to be getting further out of reach with each passing hour as conflicts between Russian separatists and Ukrainian military continue in the east of the country.
While the current situation in troubled Ukraine has not yet raised a wave of asylum seekers heading to cross the border from Ukraine, the number of illegal migrants from third countries has definitely increased. Slovakia’s Ministry of the Interior has been analysing the exact causes for this increase. “Illegal migration is typically seen with a certain amount of seasonality. Coincidentally, we have two things combined: the arrival of warmer weather, which makes it easier to overcome the border, as well as the crisis in Ukraine”, explained the Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák.
Generally Slovakia’s winter months sees immigration camps holding only a handful of illegal immigrants, however at present the camps have several dozen awaiting case investigation. Kaliňák added that Ukraine currently has very limited ability to control its security situation and borders. On the Slovak side however, Kaliňák says the country is ready to protect its border with an increased level of power for police officers as well as a new range of measures being adopted to handle any situation with Ukraine should it occur.
