Russian Military Police

Russian Military Police
Name	Russian Military Police
Nativename	Военная полиция России
Formed	1 December 2011
Preceding1	Commandant's Service of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Jurisdiction	Russian Federation
Headquarters	Moscow, Russia
Minister1 name	Sergei Shoigu
Minister1 pfo	Minister of Defence
Chief1 position	Head of the Main Directorate of the Military Police
Parent agency	Ministry of Defence (Russia)

Russian Military Police. The Russian Military Police is a law enforcement body within the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, operating under the authority of the Ministry of Defence (Russia). Established in its modern form in 2011, it is tasked with maintaining discipline, order, and security within military units and facilities. Its functions encompass a wide range of duties from traffic control on military bases to conducting criminal investigations and ensuring the security of defense ministry assets.

History

The concept of a dedicated military police force has evolved significantly throughout Russian history, with various forms of provost and commandant services existing in the Imperial Russian Army and later the Soviet Armed Forces. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Russian Armed Forces initially relied on the Commandant's Service of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which performed limited policing functions. The modern branch was formally created by federal law on 1 December 2011, during the tenure of President Dmitry Medvedev, as part of broader military reforms initiated by then-Minister of Defence Anatoly Serdyukov. This institutionalization aimed to professionalize military law enforcement, separating it from regular combat units and centralizing authority, a process influenced by observations of structures like the U.S. United States Army Military Police Corps.

Organization and structure

The Russian Military Police is organized under the Main Directorate of the Military Police, which is subordinated directly to the Ministry of Defence (Russia). Its structure is designed to mirror the organization of the armed forces, with units attached to military districts, fleets of the Russian Navy, and large formations such as the Russian Ground Forces. Key subordinate elements include regional directorates, separate battalions, and specialized companies responsible for areas like investigations, patrol service, and detention facilities. The force maintains a presence at major garrisons, including those in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and the Southern Military District, and works in coordination with other power structures like the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the National Guard of Russia.

Duties and responsibilities

The statutory duties of the force are extensive and codified in federal legislation. Primary responsibilities include maintaining military discipline and order within units, garrisons, and during troop movements. They conduct patrols, regulate military traffic, and provide security for defense ministry installations, warehouses, and Strategic Missile Forces sites. A critical function is the investigation of crimes within the armed forces, ranging from minor offenses to serious incidents, often in liaison with the Investigative Committee of Russia. Additional tasks involve escorting military convoys, guarding detainees in military detention centers, and participating in counter-terrorism operations alongside units like the Special Operations Forces (Russia).

Equipment and insignia

Personnel are equipped with standard Russian military small arms, such as variants of the AK-74 assault rifle and Makarov PM pistol, as well as non-lethal options. For patrol and mobility, they utilize military vehicles like the UAZ Patriot and GAZ Tigr, often marked with distinct blue and white checkered patterns and the letters "VP" (for *Voennaya Politsiya*). The service uniform features a unique cornflower blue beret and sleeve patch depicting a stylized eagle with a sword and scales. Rank insignia follow the standard system of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, but with the addition of the specific service emblem.

Legal basis and status

The primary legal foundation is Federal Law No. 340-FZ "On the Military Police of the Russian Federation," signed by President Vladimir Putin in 2016, which solidified its status, powers, and mandate. This law grants its personnel the authority to check documents, detain suspects, use physical force, special means, and firearms under circumstances outlined in the Criminal Code of Russia. Its operatives hold the status of military servicemen, and their actions are also governed by the Statutes of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and general legal codes. The force operates independently from civilian structures like the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Russia), though cooperation protocols exist.

Notable operations and deployments

The Russian Military Police has been deployed in various domestic and international contexts. Domestically, it has been involved in securing major events like the Army International Games and ensuring order during large-scale exercises such as Zapad. Its most prominent international deployment began in 2017 in Syria, where it was tasked with maintaining security in areas controlled by the Russian Armed Forces, including the Khmeimim Air Base and the Tartus naval facility. In this role, it conducted patrols, manned checkpoints, and facilitated the withdrawal of civilians during clashes, operating in the complex environment of the Syrian civil war. It has also been reported in conflict zones like eastern Ukraine following the annexation of Crimea and the subsequent war in the Donbas region.

Category:Law enforcement agencies of Russia Category:Russian Armed Forces