Russian Duma backs conscripts serving in Emergencies Ministry fire units

Russia's State Duma, the lower house of parliament, has passed in its first reading a bill that would let conscripts do their military service in units of the Federal Fire Service, part of the Emergencies Ministry. An explanatory note says the measure would help reduce the service's current staffing shortage.

Wider area of responsibility

At present, the service's military units operate only in closed and federal territories and at top-priority, high-security facilities. The bill would broaden their remit, citing the "global geopolitical situation," "potential threats from unfriendly countries," and the need to protect citizens and economic assets, including "in armed conflict zones."

Parlamentskaya Gazeta reported that the units would be allowed to fight fires and carry out rescue work in ordinary towns and villages and at civilian sites. The newspaper added that conscripts in these units could not be sent to the "special military operation" zone, Russia's term for the war in Ukraine, or to regions under a counterterrorism operation regime.

Causes of the shortage

Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov first spoke publicly about assigning conscripts as firefighters in February. The ministry hopes the step will address an "exodus of personnel" caused by low pay.

The Interior Ministry and the Federal Penitentiary Service have also reported staffing shortages. According to iStories, these have worsened during the war between Russia and Ukraine: people who would previously have joined such agencies are now signing contracts with the Defense Ministry because fighting pays more.

Ukraine strikes targets not only on the front line and in nearby regions but across Russia. Drones hit oil facilities, warehouses and data centers, and the attacks often cause major fires.