KYIV. July 10 (Interfax) - Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) held a meeting on Monday to decide on a new biometric security control system for foreign citizens arriving in Ukraine and an electronic preliminary registration system for Russian nationals planning a visit to the country to be introduced by January 1, 2018.
"A [new] procedure for the crossing of the state border is being introduced. This decision was made by the NSDC and all the concerned government authorities have been instructed accordingly: to ensure the crossing of our country's state boundary on biometric passports and the mandatory collection of biometric data. This primarily concerns collecting fingerprints of citizens of other states and stateless persons, except for the countries with which Ukraine has a relevant agreement. In other words, it is clear that it will primarily concern Russian nationals," NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov said at a news briefing after the NSDC meeting on Monday.
Turchynov noted that the move is aimed to strengthen national security.
However, Turchynov warned that the system may possibly be launched ahead of schedule, provided that necessary infrastructure is in place.
In addition, an electronic system for preliminary registration of Russian citizens ahead of their entry into Ukraine will be introduced and start to operate by January 1, 2018, Turchynov said.
"Appropriate technical infrastructure is being created at all state border crossing points, which is to start functioning no later than early next year. At the same time, for the citizens of the Russian Federation, an electronic system of preliminary registration will be put in place," Turchynov said.