Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has ordered the establishment of an operational headquarters at the situation centre of the Defence Ministry for managing resources allocated by the Ministry for providing disaster relief for potential seasonal natural disasters in the Far Eastern region. The operational headquarters, headed by Lieutenant General Sergei Istrakov, Chief of the Main Headquarters of the Land Forces, will be responsible for coordinating cooperation between the National Emergency Operations Centre of the Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief and regional authorities, as well as for assigning military personnel, vehicles and track machines, and army and military aircraft to provide disaster relief for potential seasonal natural disasters.
Special operational groups have been established in the Eastern and Central Military Districts.
Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu had earlier instructed that military personnel, military vehicles and aircraft be used according to the orders of the commanders of the military districts to provide rapid response and disaster relief for floods caused by melting snow. In emergency situations and if there is a threat to people's lives, this decision may be taken by the heads of garrisons at the local level.
Every May as temperatures rise the risk of seasonal natural disasters caused by ice jams on the main rivers and major forest fires increases in the Siberian, Trans-Baikal and Far Eastern regions.
Source: Ministry of Defence
