Andrei Kartapolov, who leads the State Duma Defense Committee, suggested engaging local communities to safeguard Russia’s borders. He argued that volunteers who joined a people’s movement could help defend the state’s frontiers.
He noted that unlike the Soviet era, when the entire country along the border was guarded by the USSR’s border troops, today Russia faces different realities. Therefore, border protection must adapt to new conditions. This perspective was shared in remarks reported by URA.ru.
In his view, such a measure would shield the country from sabotage from Ukraine. He also observed that several European nations employ border protection by local residents, though he did not provide specific country examples. For Kartapolov, the crucial step is to make a principled decision about whether to proceed, followed by talks about the practical conditions for implementation.
“A clear decision is needed about the necessity of this approach. I believe it is necessary today,” he said.
The discussion will then cover a wide range of topics including which government bodies would participate, how many there would be, and what kind of organization they would form. Questions about weaponization, command, oversight, and interagency collaboration will be examined in depth, the deputy noted.
Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov underscored the need to strengthen the protection of critical facilities against terrorism within Russia, citing the threat of attacks connected to events in Ukraine.
folk squads
By the end of 2022, voluntary people’s units were formed along the Russian border in Belgorod and Kursk regions near Ukraine. Some of these units receive training from a private military company. The head of the Kursk region, Roman Starovoit, reported that more than two thousand people joined these popular troops since the start of a broader operation, with authorities hoping for approximately six thousand participants. In December of the previous year, self-defense units were announced in the Belgorod region.
In April, Dmitry Gusev, an assistant to the Just Russia – For Truth faction, called for the establishment of well-trained armed popular troops in border areas. He emphasized that people should be motivated to join, acknowledging possible prerequisites such as authorization or additional compensation. He argued that organization should rest with local authorities and the armed forces, noting that these citizens should have the capability to bear arms. He also warned that if the state does not structure this effort, interested individuals might take it upon themselves. The underlying point was that people feel compelled to protect their homes by any means available.
Andrey Turchak, who chairs the United Russia Council, proposed granting arms-bearing rights to fighters within territorial defense units of the volunteer people’s troops. In March 2022, the Public Council of the FSB supported a law providing financial support from regional authorities to volunteers guarding the state border. Amendments to the law On the State Border of the Russian Federation, which took effect on December 30, 2021, enabled regional authorities and local governments to assist Russians volunteering to protect the border using regional budgets. The evolution of this policy reflects a broader conversation about mobilizing local resources for national security purposes.