Do you need security police in the rear during the war: a former military man appealed to the authorities

In wartime, every soldier, every combat unit on the front line is important. However, the question arises: what are those who could strengthen the Ukrainian army doing in the rear? Yurii Gudymenko, a politician and former military officer, expresses his categorical disagreement with the fact that 16,000 security police officers remain in the rear, performing tasks that could easily be taken over by private security companies.

Gudymenko appeals to the Ministry of Defense with an appeal:

“Dear Ministry of Defense, I found you four brigades. Trained fighters, well-groomed. No thanks.

Security police. 16,000 employees. Booked, as I understand it, all or almost all (this is classified information, but I have, let’s say, guesses). The task of the security police is to protect kiosks, apartments and businesses.

In other words, to do what private security companies do, only with all the advantages and benefits of the state structure, namely the status of a police officer (and, accordingly, reservation), issuing apartments to the management at the expense of taxpayers and periodically participating in the squeezing or redistribution of factories and enterprises in regions with mandatory “coughing up” upwards.

And this despite the fact that patrol police officers, some of whom are running at the front, constantly complain about the lack of people and machines for hunting criminals and enemies. And here are four brigades of pseudo-policemen who do not go to calls, are hidden from mobilization and generally feel great.”

According to Gudymenko, this situation requires serious revision. If the state budget, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, lacks funds, wouldn’t it be advisable to disband the security police department and redirect these people to more important tasks? Instead of guarding kiosks and apartments, these workers could strengthen the patrol police or join the new combat brigades that are so needed at the front.

In addition, the former serviceman notes that security police officers have a lot of resources, in particular, cars for work. On the roads of Kyiv, you can often see their cars advertising alarm services. Gudymenko suggests that the protection of such objects should be handled by private companies that can cope with this task, while the state will save money by giving up functions that are not typical for it.

In view of this, an important question arises: is it appropriate to retain 16 thousand employees of the state structure, who perform work that can be transferred to private companies? In the countries of Europe or the USA, according to Gudymenko, it is difficult to imagine a situation where the state would maintain a security company at the expense of taxpayers, while these same taxpayers silently accept it.

“You, Denys Shmyhal, I heard that there is not enough money in the budget? Disperse the police department, the protection of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the employees – either to the patrol or to the Ministry of Defense to form new brigades. There, I heard, we do not have enough people in the Pokrovsky direction Here they are.

They have a certain number of SUVs, I constantly see these beautiful white Mitsubishis on the roads in Kyiv with an offer to install an alarm system. Let private security guards protect the kiosks and apartments, they will handle it. And you report that the state has begun to support 16,000 fewer people, while getting rid of functions that are not typical for it.

We are, of course, an incredible country. I don’t think that in the countries of Europe or the USA, the state would have a security firm at the expense of taxpayers, and these same taxpayers remained silent for years and did not ask the question: “Why is it needed at all?”, – Gudymenko emphasized.

In his opinion, such changes are necessary not only for saving resources, but also for more effective use of the country’s human potential, especially in difficult times for it. Ukraine needs people at the front, not guarding kiosks.

The author expressed his opinion, which may not coincide with the editorial position.