On 1 August the Director of the National Security Service of Armenia, Major-General Artur Vanetsyan and the Commander of the Border Patrol Troops of the National Security Service, Colonel Vaghinak Sargsyan, presented the results of the “Shield 2019” border guard exercise, reported news.am.

The “Shield 2019” was a command staff exercise conducted within the framework of the special border operation. It indicated the omissions and presented recommendations to raise the level of effectiveness of the actions of Border Patrol troops in case of escalations along the state border. It was the first time that the Armenian Border Patrol Troops conducted a military exercise in such a format, providing the command staff of the Border Patrol to assess their potential and capabilities.

“The geopolitical developments unfolding right next to our country bind us to be alert, and it is the Border Patrol that has to be the most ready. Only those who do not work do not make mistakes, but here it is much more important to see and identify the mistakes and make efforts to correct those mistakes”, Vanetsyan said.

The Armenian Border Patrol is a branch of the Armed Forces of Armenia that is responsible for monitoring and guarding Armenia's borders with Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran and Georgia. The Border Patrol works in conjunction with a Russian military contingent stationed in Armenia and headquartered in Gyumri. The administration of the Armenian Border Patrol was transferred from the Ministry of Defense to the National Security Service in 2004, the body which elaborates and implements the policies regarding the national security sector.