National Guard of Russia
The Federal Service of Troops of National Guard of the Russian Federation, officially known as the , is a federal executive body of the Russian Federation responsible for law enforcement, internal security, counterterrorism and riot control.
The National Guard is an independent agency that reports directly to the president of Russia as the Supreme Commander in Chief of the Russian Armed Forces and Chairman of the Russian Security Council; however, it is legally and structurally separate from the Armed Forces., the National Guard consisted of approximately 340,000 personnel in 84 units across Russia. It includes the forces of the former Internal Troops of Russia, SOBR, OMON, and other internal military forces outside the Russian Armed Forces.
The National Guard was established in 2016 by a law signed by President Vladimir Putin, which aimed to enhance efficiency and avoid duplication of responsibilities within the Russian security system, owing to strategic challenges faced by Russia. Its stated mission is to secure Russia's borders, take charge of gun control, combat terrorism and organized crime, protect public order and guard important state facilities; additionally, the National Guard suppresses civil strife or attempts of another "colour revolution", not only domestically, but also abroad, in friendly regimes.
In 2017, President Putin designated 27 March as National Guard Day, which marks the Old Style date in 1811 that Emperor Alexander I organised the.
Official name
The National Guard of Russia is officially known as the Federal National Guard Troops Service of the Russian Federation. In Russia, it is officially referred to by the acronym . In Russian, the less formal acronym is also sometimes used.History
The National Guard is a direct successor to Internal Troops of the Soviet Union, Internal Troops of Russia, OMON, and SOBR units formerly under the control of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The establishment of the National Guard of Russia was one of the new Russian government's first and only significant actions before March 1992. At its inception, at least 11 brigades consisting of no more than 100,000 personnel were planned, each having between 3,000 and 5,000 personnel. National Guard military units were to be deployed in 10 regions, including three brigades in Moscow, two in St. Petersburg, and more in a number of other important cities and regions. At its inception, many in Moscow, mostly former Soviet Armed Forces servicemen, expressed their desire to serve in the new National Guard.The National Guard was originally intended to be a temporary measure; however, it was never dissolved. A motion titled "on the temporary position of the Russian Guard" was tabled by then-president Boris Yeltsin. Plans to create a National Guard that would be directly under the control of the president were first reported in April 2012. It would use personnel and resources belonging to the Russian Airborne Troops, Air Force, Navy and Military Police, as well as elements of Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations.
The establishment of the National Guard reportedly caused contention within the Kremlin, since the new force took over duties and functions normally carried out by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. A spokesman denied that the establishment of the National Guard meant a crisis of confidence in the so-called siloviki and stated that the Federal Guard Service would retain its role. However, he did not comment on whether the then-incumbent heads of the Federal Drug Service and the Federal Migration Service, which underwent major reforms after their subordination to the Interior Ministry, would retain their posts.
Establishment
The current iteration of the National Guard of Russia was created by President Putin on 5 April 2016 by Presidential Decree. On 6 April 2016, Putin submitted a draft framework law for this new executive body titled "On the Russian National Guard Troops" to the State Duma, along with its corresponding amendments that contain a provision for the protection of pregnant women, children, disabled persons and crowds, which mirrored the limitations already in place in the Russian legislation concerning police work:On 9 May 2016, 400 National Guardsmen participated in the 2016 Moscow Victory Day Parade for the first time. Although the National Guard was created by Presidential Decree, a bill was not read and adopted by the State Duma for its official inception until 18 May and 22 June 2016, respectively. After being passed by the State Duma, it was then approved by the Federation Council The first National Guardsmen to be enlisted took their military oaths on 1 June 2016.
Establishment process phases
Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the National Guard started operations before the legal basis for its work was actually finalized. According to National Guard Director Viktor Zolotov, the formation of the Russian National Guard is to take place in three stages. The first phase is the transformation of Interior Troops, OMON, and SOBR units into National Guard units. The second step involves the elaboration of the troops' organizational and staff structure, harmonizing regulations and assigning specific tasks to each unit. The third phase envisages the completion of all organizational activities of the National Guard.File:Soldiers of the National Guard in the cordon on the FIFA World Cup 2018. Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod.jpg|thumb|Soldiers of the National Guard providing security in Nizhny Novgorod during the 2018 FIFA World CupFirst five years
In early 2017, in support of the efforts of Vyacheslav Volodin, the Russian National Guard formed a new cyber-intelligence division under the command of Larisa Goryachko, who formerly was employed with the operational-search bureau of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Ural Federal District as well as the central office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, to "monitor the activity of citizens in social networks, revealing cases of extremism there" over the entire internet according to Rosbalt news agency. In 2019, the budget of the National Guard was increased by 5% from 111.9 billion rubles to about 117.5 billion rubles. During the same year, National Guardsmen from Saint Petersburg were apprehended after planting drugs on a 16-year-old. In February 2021, it was noticed that the National Guard had been used to silence pro-Navalny protests in an attempt by the Putin regime "to fend off threats to its political monopoly at any cost."2021–present
In late July 2021, the National Guard staged their first-ever operational-strategic exercise simultaneously in every Russian federal district except the North Caucasian. On 21 November 2021, it was decided to classify National Guard budget requests.Early in January and February 2022, there were reports of National Guard detachments moving to the Russia–Ukraine border and Belarus, joining the supposed "training exercise" going on during the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis. When Russian forces invaded Ukraine on 24 February, National Guardsmen moved into Ukrainian territory, establishing themselves in occupied cities and towns reportedly for the purpose suppressing local hostile population. The National Guard participated in combat situations with the Ukrainian military and Ukrainian National Guard. Its units were deployed in the vanguard of the initial attack, suggesting that the Russian forces were not expecting much resistance from local Ukrainian forces. As a result, the National Guard had to act as a regular combat force, with reports that they suffered high losses. Ukrainian forces destroyed and captured military columns carrying riot control equipment. On 13 March, the Chechen National Guard withdrew from Kyiv after suffering "hundreds" of casualties. It was reported on the same day that the National Guard helped to repress the 2022 anti-war protests in Russia, dispersing rallies and arresting protestors. On 15 March 2022, chief National Guardsman Viktor Zolotov, along with ten others in Russia's "Defense Enterprise," were sanctioned by the United States. All were added to the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons. On 17 March, it was reported that National Guard Deputy Chief General Roman Gavrilov was fired due the operational failures of the National Guard during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On 25 and 28 March, a BTR-80 armored personnel carrier and armored Ural military truck were destroyed and several National Guardsmen were killed by the Transcarpathian 128th Mountain Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On 2 June, it was reported that National Guard Unit #6720 had taken part in the Bucha massacre, where at least ten of them participated in looting. "Nothing was neglected... not only financial savings, jewelry, computer or household appliances, but also of linen were established. After retreating to Belarus, the Russian occupiers sent these items by mail to their relatives in Russia." On 6 June, President Putin ordered a 5 million ruble life insurance benefit payment to the families of National Guardsmen who died in Ukraine.
On 22 May 2023, it was reported that National Guardsmen would be deployed to defend Belgorod from the Freedom of Russia Legion. Since August 2023, the National Guard has been recruiting ex-Wagner convicts that served in Ukraine and have proof of their pardon. Those who have breached Article 228 of the Criminal Code of Russia, however, require special approval. On 13 November 2023, it was reported that four former inmates who fought for the Wagner Group in eastern Ukraine had been receiving calls and text messages offering them military contracts. Three of the veterans reported that the National Guard specifically was trying to recruit them. A text message said, "Wagner is officially becoming a unit of Rosgvardia...The entire structure, methods of work and commanders remain the same." Other reports indicate that former Wagner fighters have joined Chechen Akhmat units whilst still wearing Wagner patches.
In September 2025, it was announced that the National Guard would create tank units.