As of April 1, 2026, the UK Security Industry Authority (SIA) has made refresher training mandatory for Close Protection licence renewal.

The refresher training covers physical intervention, searching and screening procedures, first aid, and response to terrorist threats. The principle is straightforward: becoming a qualified Close Protection Officer (CPO) is not enough. Professional skills must be continuously maintained and updated.

For Ukraine, this standard has a very different context. The Ukrainian close protection profession has been developing for decades, while international competitions for professional protection specialists have been held in Ukraine since the early 2000s. Since 2022, however, the profession has acquired an entirely new dimension. A Ukrainian close protection officer must be prepared not only for an assassination attempt or criminal threat, but also for missile attacks, UAV strikes, evacuations under fire, mine hazards, and operations in areas close to active combat.

The continuous visits of foreign political and business delegations to Ukraine have created another unique area of operational experience. Foreign protection teams may have excellent training, but Ukrainian specialists understand the actual operational environment, safe routes, local risks, and the specific requirements of providing protection in a country at war.

This is why Ukrainian experience is becoming increasingly relevant to the global Executive Protection industry. The war has transformed professional training from a periodic requirement into a continuous real-world test against evolving threats.