Placement of productive forces (taking into account both the economic feasibility and security of the country) is one of the problems of the regional economy. Due to different circumstances, the implementation of these requirements cannot be achieved at the same time. Thus, the choice is necessary to make, and it is made in favor of the latter, as a rule. Conscious assumption of an imbalance in the development of border regions implies appropriate adjustments in the structure of internal territories. The complexity of solving these problems lies in the individualization of each border region and, accordingly, in choosing its own model of its development and the scheme of the relationship of the periphery with the center. The article also provides approaches to the implementation of this problem.