Russia officially completes security fence with Ukraine in Crimea

Crimean authorities say Russia has completed the construction of a 60km fence, equipped with barbed wire and hundreds of sensors, on the border with Ukraine in the north of the peninsula.Al Jazeerayesterday news

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said most of the sensors picked up vibrations from any potential intrusion, but some were simply locators. Yefim Fiks, the speaker of the Crimean parliament, said the move was necessary to "protect the local population from the crazy tricks of the Ukrainian government".

Fiks stressed that Kiev “can do anything”. “Even if the authorities do not provoke, ignorant activists can do it,” he added.

However, Ukrainian border guard spokesman Andriy Demchenko said that this measure "is likely just a propaganda move by Russia to show that they are strengthening security, separating themselves from Ukraine and ensuring that sabotage groups cannot cross the border in the future".

"I hope that this fence, as well as other actions of the occupiers, will not limit the right of Ukrainian citizens to visit the peninsula," Demchenko said, referring to Russia.

Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014 and the separatist movement in eastern Ukraine have strained relations between Moscow and Kiev. Russia's seizure of three Ukrainian warships in the Black Sea in late November, accusing them of violating territorial waters and dangerous maneuvers, has escalated the conflict.