Missions of Civil Defence Forces

After World War II the Soviet government was taking significant measures on defence of the population and industry against new possible invasions. Particular attention was focused on protection against mass destruction weapons, specifically against nuclear ones.

This mission was carried out by the Local Air Defence which in 1961 was reorganized into the Civil Defence System of the Soviet Union. In 1971 the Civil Defence System was placed under the command of the Ministry of Defence. The Civil Defence Forces integrated with the Armed Forces. Their status and standards of physical training were identical with the motorifle troops.

Initially the task of the Civil Defence Forces was to carry out technical military tasks in support of the civilian civil defence effort. The Civil Defence Forces provided such operations as bomb disposal, mine clearing, decontamination, and maintenance of essential communications. But they were poor in dealing with natural disasters which were increasing every year and involving more and more losses. To solve this problem the Ministry for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters was formed and the Civil Defence Forces were subordinated to it. So, at present the Civil Defence Forces carry out not only military civil defence missions but they also eliminate the effects of natural and man-made disasters, large scale accidents, and other emergencies.

Questions to Text A

1. When was the Civil Defence System of the Soviet Union formed?

2. What was the base for the Civil Defence System of the Soviet Union?

3. What was the mission of the Local Air Defence?

4. When was the Civil Defence System placed under the command of

the Ministry of Defence?

5. What was the initial task of the Civil Defence Forces?

6. The Civil Defence Forces were poor in dealing with natural disasters,

weren’t they?

7. What operations did the Civil Defence Forces provide in 1960s?

8. When was the Emergency Situations Ministry of Russia formed?

9. What is the official name of the Emergency Situations Ministry of Russia?