The engineering and technical development of the state border with Russia on the territory of Kharkiv region under the European Wall project should be finished in 2017, Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has said.

"This year the task has been set and the border guards are ready to fulfill it, so that we completely cover the entire Kharkiv section of the border as part of the European Wall project. This year this will be Kharkiv region, Luhansk and Sumy regions will follow. These are our plans and we will insist that the financing should be full," Avakov said at a briefing in Kharkiv region on Saturday.

"The ministry will fully ensure the use of funds [as intended] so that there should be no abuses," NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov added.

Avakov said the total amount of UAH 500 million is to be allocated for the development of the border in Kharkiv region.

"The funds allocated this year will amount to about UAH 200 million. In addition, the draft budget amendments, which were approved by parliament the day before yesterday, envisage additional UAH 300 million. This will allow to cover the entire section of the border in Kharkiv region with intelligent towers, a seismic cable, ensure proper technical equipment so that not a single meter of the border is left without the control of the border guards. This system will allow us to reliably protect the borders of the European Union, with which we now have a visa-free regime and provide for the functioning of the European Wall," Avakov said.