The Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters

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Main tasks of PRU

Main tasks of the PRU are:

a) In peacetime:

to take measures to maintain preparedness of the PRU to fulfill tasks;
to use, place and upgrade armaments, vehicles and other material and technical means, purposed for search rescue and recovery and other emergency operations;
to participate in prevention and mitigation of emergency situations;
to participate in preparation of personnel and equipment to prevent and mitigate emergency situations, as well as instruct the population in the matters of civil defence;
to participate in scientific and research and development efforts to create, test and introduce new technical means for protection of the population and territories, material and cultural assets during emergency situations, as well as for development of technologies for carrying out of rescue and recovery and other emergency operations.

b) During mitigation of emergency situation in peacetime:

To carry out radiological, chemical and nonspecific bacteriological (biological) reconnaissance in the emergency zones, as well as on routes to such zones;
To carry out rescue and recovery and other emergency operations to take under control and mitigate natural disasters and man-caused emergency situations in the Russian Federation, as well as in foreign countries with which the Russian Federation has agreements;
To carry out sapper operations, connected with defusing of aerial bombs and land mines, as well as humanitarian demining;
To carry out sanitization of the population, decontamination of building and structures, special sanitization of vehicles, equipment and territories;
To carry out delivery of cargo to emergency zones, including delivery of humanitarian aid to foreign countries;
To supply the hit population with provisions, water, necessities, other material means and services, accommodation and temporary shelters, as well as render first aid to the hit population;
To evacuate the population, material and cultural assets from emergency zones;
To carry out repair operations of essential services;
To cooperate with troops (forces) and means of the federal executive authorities in anti-terror activities.

c) At times of war:

To carry out radiological, chemical and nonspecific bacteriological (biological) reconnaissance in the sites of rescue and recovery and other emergency operations, as well as on routes to such zones;
To provide entrance for civil defence forces in affected areas, contamination zones and catastrophic floods;
To carry out sapper operations, connected with defusing of aerial bombs and land mines, as well as humanitarian demining;
To carry out sanitization of the population, decontamination of building and structures, special sanitization of vehicles, equipment and territories;
To evacuate the population, material and cultural assets from affected areas, contamination zones and catastrophic floods;
Mitigation of aftermath of use of weapons of mass destruction;
To participate in operations dedicated to provision of territorial defence and administration of martial law;
To carry out repair operations of essential services.

Use of the PRU in peacetime is determined by the Minister of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters (hereinafter the Minister) and at times of war it is determined by the President of the Russian Federation.

Paramilitary Rescue Units of Ministry of Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters

According to the decision of the President of the Russian Federation from 4 January 2009, the efforts to reorganize the civil defence forces into Paramilitary Rescue Units of the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters consisting of 7223 servicemen.

Following legal acts and regulations were issued:

No.223-FZ Federal Law from 27 July 2010 „On introduction of changes in several legal acts of the Russian Federation“;
Edict No.1265 of the President of the Russian Federation from 30 September 2011 ”On Paramilitary Rescue Units of the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters” (hereinafter The Edict);
Governmental regulation No. 1113 of the Government of the Russian Federation from 23 December 2011 “On introduction of changes in several legal acts of the Government of the Russian Federation concerning the matters of organization of activity of Paramilitary Rescue Units of the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters”;
Order No.704 of the Emergencies Ministry of Russia from 28 November 2011 “On introduction of the Edict No. 1265 of the President of the Russian Federation from 30 September 2011”;
The reorganization of the civil defence forces into the Paramilitary Rescue Units of the Emergencies Ministry of Russia had been finished in 2011.

The Edict No.1265 of the President of the Russian Federation from 30 September 2011 provides for:

Formation of the Paramilitary Rescue Units of the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters (hereinafter the PRU) on the basis of current military units and reorganization of civil defence forces;
Ratification of these units;
Approval of the Statute of the PRU;
Structure and composition of PRU.

The level of strength of the PRU units is established at 7223 servicemen and 17 220 people of employed personnel.

The PRU are purposed for protection of the population and territories, material and cultural assets against dangers occurring due to military operations or as an aftermath of these operations, as well as due to natural disasters and man-caused emergencies, including abroad of the Russian Federation. The PRU is a component part of the civil defence.

In accordance with the No.61-FZ Federal Law “On defence” the PRU can be engaged into special operations in the matters of civil defence.

Provision of activity of PRU

The PRU is funded by the budget appropriations, included in the federal budget for the corresponding year.

Special, logistic an technical supply of the PRU is carried out in accordance with rules and regulation established by the Emergencies Ministry of Russia.

Purchasing and supply of the armaments and special military vehicles, ammunition, special equipment for provision of activity of the PRU is carried out by the Emergencies Ministry in accordance with the No.61-FZ “On defence” from 31 May 1996, No.213-FZ “On the state armament contracts” from 27 December 1995, No.94-FZ “On placing of contracts for supply of goods, performed works, services for state and municipal needs” federal laws and legal acts issued in accordance with following federal laws.

The servicemen of the PRU receive all benefits, rights, compensations and social protections as the servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.