Border Service of the FSB of the Russian Federation Пограничная служба Федеральной службы безопасности Российской Федерации |
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Logo of the Border Service of the FSB of the Russian Federation
Пограничная служба Федеральной службы безопасности Российской Федерации |
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Flag of the Border Service of the FSB of the Russian Federation
Пограничная служба Федеральной службы безопасности Российской Федерации |
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Agency overview | |
Formed | June 12, 1992 |
Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
Jurisdictional structure | |
Federal agency | Russia |
Size | 20,241 lineal kilometers |
General nature |
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Specialist jurisdiction | National border patrol, security, and integrity. |
Operational structure | |
Headquarters | Moscow |
Parent agency | Federal Security Service (Russia) |
Facilities | |
Stations | Yes |
Lockups | Yes |
Patrol cars | Yes |
Boats | Yes |
Dogs | Yes |
Website | |
[1] |
The Border Service of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (Russian: Пограничная служба Федеральной службы безопасности Российской Федерации) is a branch of Federal Security Service of Russia tasked with patrol of the Russian border.
The terms Border Service of Russia (Russian: Пограничная служба России) and Border Force of Russia (Russian: Пограничные войска России) are also common, while in English, the terms "Border Guards" and "Border Troops" are frequently used to designate this service. The Border service includes the Russian maritime border guard units (i.e., the coast guard).
One can trace the origin of the Russian border service to Prince Mikhail Vorotynsky and his Great Abatis Border in the 16th century. In 1782 the Empress Catherine II of Russia established Border Customs Guard units, originally manned by Russian Cossacks as well as by low-ranking cavalry troops. General Mikhail Barklay de Tolly organized in 1810 numerous border posts with 11 regiments of Don and Bug Cossacks along all western Russian border. Within two years Russian Border Guards became the first to oppose Napoleon's invasion of Russia (June 1812}. In 1832 Cossacks and cavalry were replaced by armed customs officials subordinate to the Ministry of Finance in peacetime (in wartime the border guards were automatically transferred to the army). In the same year a coast guard was set up, originally to observe Black sea and Azov sea coasts.