The Russian government has approved a draft law that would allow conscripts to serve in military units of the Emergency Situations Ministry's Federal Fire Service, Vedomosti reported, citing sources. Conscripts would be deployed to fight fires and conduct emergency rescue operations.
The document also expands the mandate of such units. Currently, they can operate only on closed and federal territories, as well as at especially important and restricted facilities. The authors of the amendments propose allowing them to work in populated areas and organizations to protect civilians and the economy, including in zones of armed conflict — “taking into account the developing geopolitical situation in the world and potential threats from unfriendly countries.”
The bill was submitted to the State Duma in April by deputy speakers Victoria Abramchenko and Pyotr Tolstoy, as well as deputies Anatoly Vyborny and Ernest Valeev. The initiative has not yet passed its first reading.
Authorities attribute the Emergency Situations Ministry's staffing shortage to low salaries. The agency's head, Alexander Kurenkov, previously acknowledged that firefighters have to take on second jobs — “not because life is good” — including as auto mechanics or shift workers. In February, Kurenkov said up to 5,000 conscripts could be sent to the ministry, and that agreements with the Defense Ministry had already been reached.
The explanatory note to the bill states that the number of Emergency Situations Ministry duty crews is declining by an average of 3–5% per year. Due to the shortage, some fire and rescue units have temporarily ceased operations, and low staffing levels can lead to larger fire areas, injuries, and greater damage.
On the Moscow branch of the Emergency Situations Ministry's website, candidates for firefighter and senior emergency response instructor positions are offered from 50,000 rubles, fire truck drivers from 53,000 rubles, and state inspectors for small vessels from 48,000 rubles. For an engineer in the unmanned aircraft systems department, the salary is listed at 25,000 rubles.