Extremely fast
Russian rescuers are taking under the protection of new areas in which previously the Ministry of Emergency Situations was not. Equipment that can go through the tundra, and the taiga, and the ice and work at sixty degrees of frost enters the fire brigades. At the same time, the climate is changing significantly, and the risks associated with industrial development are increasing. How prepared is MES for new natural and man-made challenges? Vladimir Puchkov, head of the RF Ministry of Civil Defense, Emergencies and Disaster Relief, told about this and many other things at the Business Breakfast in Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
Vladimir Andreevich, with the arrival of spring begins the season of large floods and forest fires. Something catastrophic expect?
Vladimir Puchkov: No, no extraordinary, such as it was in the Far East or Altai - no. In recent years, tremendous work has been done in Russia to protect against spring floods. Across the country, dams, dams, hydraulic structures are practically everywhere strengthened. We put things in tight hands with the so-called ownerless defenses. This will ensure trouble-free passage of flood waters and prompt response to emerging problems, which, of course, will be.
There is a lot of talk about warming as a reason for increasing floods. This means that the standards according to which dams and other water-protective structures were built in Soviet times have become outdated today. How do you solve this problem?
Vladimir Puchkov: Let me give you a simple example. City Komsomolsk-on-Amur, the famous Mylkinskaya dam. It was built taking into account predictions of a rise in the water level at 6 meters maximum.
And last year the flood showed its temper and the dam had to be lifted by more than three meters. They worked around the clock, literally with their breasts defended people from the elements.
If the Mylkinsk Dam were not kept, not only the city would have gone under water, the shipyard and all of our aviation workshops, all of our MiG-35s, the most advanced equipment, Superjet-100 and much more. The losses would be colossal.
But we do not sit still. The unified state system of emergency prevention and response is functioning effectively. For 10 - 15 years, a unique multi-faceted work has been done in the field of prevention and risk management. A new legal and regulatory framework has been formatted. Created effective mechanisms for their implementation. Today, it can be stated that over the past 5 years there has been a steady trend in reducing the number of natural emergencies and reducing losses from man-made fires.
Reports of the first forest fires this year are coming. According to your predictions where it will be especially dangerous?
Vladimir Puchkov: Yes, the first fires in the Far East, in Siberia, in the center of the country have already begun, but this is not a record yet. Here in the past year in Primorye, January 5 extinguished the first natural fire.
This spring does not yet present any serious anomalies, although temperature records in some regions have been broken. Peatlands are under tight control. This is a great, serious, hard work. Here the Ministry of Emergency Situations works together with the Ministry of Environment and the subjects of the Russian Federation.
All planned activities in the central part of the country, including in the Moscow Region and adjacent areas, have been fulfilled. But the fact is that peatlands occupy very large areas, including houses, buildings, structures and communications built on them. Therefore, this is a topic that requires, on the one hand, close professional attention of federal structures, on the other hand - regional authorities, as well as a responsible attitude of owners, tenants of land and ordinary citizens.
Easter and the May holidays are just around the corner, are you going to limit people access to the forests?
Vladimir Puchkov: It is quite difficult to do. With increased risks of occurrence of large natural fires, fire regimes and restrictions for citizens should be introduced in a timely manner. These are decisions of local governments and subjects of the Russian Federation. But no regime will ever work if we, the citizens, do not observe fire safety measures. We have a very large number of settlements located directly in the forests. How to forbid residents to leave the gate? Therefore, a lot depends on citizens and local authorities.
At one time, the firefighters were helped by the fact that the forestry had owners, there were foresters who plowed up all the plots, removed the dead wood. There is nothing of this now. How to cope?
Vladimir Puchkov: There is a multi-level system. EMERCOM of Russia is responsible for man-made fires. In recent years, a serious leap forward has been made in this matter. We worked out all the necessary security plans and provided an integrated approach.
Among the new Emergencies Ministry fire engine with a medical module, rescue motorcycles and ATVs
But have we solved all the problems? Of course not. Although on the ground, new measures have been taken to implement protection measures when burning dry grass, the so-called controlled fall, but problems remain. Such fires require professional work and cover by the relevant units. It is not done everywhere.
Now in Transbaikalia, a number of other regions the snow has melted and at the same time the planned annealing of all pastures begins. If you do not burn the autumn dead wood, the cattle will have a small weight gain in the spring, because the green grass makes its way slowly. This is objective. These are not hundreds of thousands, these are millions of hectares of steppe development, it is difficult to control everything. And now, imagine, the bans were introduced, everything that was needed was fulfilled, the documents were signed. And the shepherd mounted his horse, set the torch on fire and galloped off. He performs annealing ... And over the hill a village, residential buildings and a House of Culture. Rivers and reservoirs under the ice, in the wells of low water. How to put out such a fire? Of course, MOE extinguished. These are the lessons that every leader must learn.
A fire engine from afar, and even in the steppe or taiga is not so easy to get to burning houses. The problem is old. Now the Russian developers, creating a new rescue equipment, rely on speed and throughput. Buying new items?
Vladimir Puchkov: Of course. We can say that we have formed a new look of modern high-tech fire and rescue equipment and machinery. The range of special firefighters and rescue vehicles has been significantly expanded by creating modern models for operation in various conditions, made using modern technologies and materials, and also having more fire and rescue equipment in their arsenal by 25 percent. These are tankers for work in low-temperature conditions, vehicles for fire and rescue in tunnels, a series of high-performance pump-and-hose complexes, a complex for rescue operations at facilities with structures made of high-strength materials.
The EMERCOM of Russia has developed and successfully recommended high-tech samples - a fire-fighting vehicle with a medical module, fire-fighting motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. They can significantly reduce the response time to fires and emergencies and provide assistance to people in trouble at the level of world standards.
We can name dozens of developments that have already successfully recommended themselves and are being used - an emergency rescue vehicle of improved maneuverability, modules for removing smoke and toxic gases from enclosed spaces, a mobile laboratory complex for assessing and controlling radiation and chemical conditions, including in emergency zones. situations, and more. On equipment, pyrotechnists of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia have the most modern remote-controlled robotic systems.
Also, scientific and technological progress has affected the water element. A combined self-propelled floating fire pumping station, as well as an experimental model of a fire-fighting and amphibious hovercraft, were developed. In general, modern domestic technical developments allow us to dynamically develop the controls and forces of the Emergencies Ministry and the Emergency Response System.
By the way, about management. A new technology, after all, requires higher-level approaches to information processing, setting tasks, and making decisions. Conform to?
Vladimir Puchkov: First, we are actively developing a system of crisis management centers. Such centers operate in all regions of the country and abroad. In their work, they use the latest progressive domestic technologies in management and risk assessment.
Second, we are introducing a space monitoring system using Russian satellite systems, modern network technologies and information technology infrastructure into the daily activities of crisis management centers in the field. In this area, we actively interact with colleagues from the European Union, the United Nations, China, Belarus and other countries. Also, the Ministry of Emergency Situations is actively developing a system for remote sensing of the Earth and a system of protection of the population and socially significant objects from impact from space. We pay great attention to the improvement of ground laboratories of observation and control.
Third, we are developing aviation rescue technologies. We are actively implementing Drones. We plan to create unmanned aviation centers in all regions of the Russian Federation, including Crimea and Sevastopol. This will allow responding to threats at a modern level, carrying out comprehensive monitoring of territories, as well as developing and implementing the latest domestic IT and other technologies.
New technologies can not do without in the course of the development of the Arctic - an important national project. Your ministry ensures the security of this region. What is planned to do this year?
Vladimir Puchkov: Formation of the forces of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia in the Integrated Safety System of the Population and Territories in the Arctic zone will be carried out by increasing the readiness of the current group of forces of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. This is more than 16 thousands of firefighters, rescue workers and other professionals. They are engaged in the prevention and prevention of accidents, catastrophes and disasters in northern latitudes. They extinguish fires, eliminate emergencies and perform many other tasks. For our guys, minus 50 degrees, heat, midges, swamps are not exotic, but jobs.
At the same time, the Ministry of Emergency Situations created 10 of the Arctic integrated rescue centers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia. In order to prepare rescuers for work in the harsh conditions of the Arctic last year, the Arctic rescue training and research center Vytegra, located in the Vologda region, was added to the Arctic centers.
At present, the construction of the 3 center is in operation - in Arkhangelsk, Naryan-Mar, Dudinka. This year it is planned to complete the construction and commissioning of the center in Murmansk. In the eastern part of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, in the settlements of Pevek and Provideniya, it is planned to create reserve emergency rescue equipment and equipment for conducting large-scale search and rescue operations. This ensures the safety of new economic projects and the development of the northern sea routes.
France has not responded to our offer to help with the aftermath of the terrible plane crash in the Alps. Although the Europeans are well aware that Russia has rescuers of the highest qualification. Do you think this waiver is also a kind of sanction?
Vladimir Puchkov: I think that there is no politics here. Europeans have enough high-class specialists in the mountains. We have established an excellent dialogue and direct connection with the anti-crisis center in Brussels, the United Nations, Geneva and other parts of the world. No sanctions affect the interaction of our departments.
EMERCOM of Russia has close bilateral contacts with more than 60 countries of the world. This is also Europe, this is North and South America, this is Southeast, this is Central Asia, this is China. We implement all approved plans and cooperation programs. When an emergency occurs, we react very quickly.
Just one example. Recently, a delegation from a country that joined the sanctions, Croatia, visited Moscow. During the visit, Croatian Minister of Economy Ivan Vrdolyak said that Croatia respects and respects all decisions taken by the European Union, but no decisions can prevent us from developing friendly relations with Russia. Former Croatian President Stepan Mesich added that the two countries have the political will to expand cooperation and proof of this is a huge delegation that came to Russia from Croatia.
Japan also joined the sanctions verbally. But in Tokyo, at the recent Third World Conference of the United Nations, where I was elected Vice-President, the Emperor and Empress of Japan attended the opening. From the point of view of Eastern traditions, this is a momentous moment. Everyone knows that they are elderly people and because of their age, everything is not always smooth with health. Nevertheless, they honored the conference with their presence.
But in general, the entire work of the conference was accompanied by a good working tone, understanding and mutual respect for each other. We managed to work out a joint framework agreement.
That is, many fears about the sanctions exaggerated?
Vladimir Puchkov: We have not corrected any plans and continue to interact both in a bilateral format and in the format of international organizations. This is work within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, this is both APEC and BRICS, we continue to cooperate with the European Union.
I remember that in Soviet times, mass high-rise residential construction was prohibited in Moscow. I understand that technologies are developing, but can Muscovites be reassured? Is it safe to live in skyscrapers?
Vladimir Puchkov: If you remember, there was a fire in the Moscow-City complex. We extinguished it with the use of unique aviation rescue technologies EMERCOM of Russia and helicopters. Experience has shown that even at such a height any fire can be extinguished effectively. And in this sense, the experience was useful. Now a large complex of measures has been carried out, regulatory documents have been developed at the level of international standards to prevent problems in the skyscrapers in the capital and other cities.
Now, in the period of budget cuts, have financial difficulties affected the quality of work of your department?
Vladimir Puchkov: Optimization of activity did not directly affect combat units. Abbreviations affected servicing management.
In addition, we try to optimize our activities in another way. A well-known fact - prevention of emergency situations in 10 - 12 is cheaper than eliminating the consequences of emergency situations.
MES has reduced a number of support structures, assigning functions to other structures. I will give a simple example. We have six higher education institutions. And in the same cities there were educational centers of the federal fire service. The Ministry of Emergency Situations eliminated the FPS training centers there, and their functions and the most trained teachers were transferred to universities, but they reduced all supporting structures.
We also made a number of decisions to reduce the number of control and supervisory authorities, improving the activity in this area. But we compensate all this by introducing new forms and methods of work. We implement security audit, independent risk assessment, implement a declaration system, on the one hand, and on the other hand, increase responsibility, especially for heads of organizations and institutions of small and medium-sized businesses, implement the full range of measures to introduce modern risk insurance approaches.
And yet the cuts will affect the MOE?
Vladimir Puchkov: Reduce, but not mechanically. These are supporting structures - accounting, with all due respect to it, personnel services, logistics services, at the same time we introduce modern accounting, logistics and other approaches.
MOE this year increases the number of reactive units. Those services that work directly to help and support people, we strengthen. We are increasing the number of rescue units in the North Caucasus, which are covering up new resorts, in the Far East, in the North-West. We form regional detachments to extinguish large fires and eliminate emergency situations even where the Emergencies Ministry has never been.
And what about our southern borders with Ukraine?
Vladimir Puchkov: In the south of Russia, all our concerns are with the Crimea. We have implemented a whole system of measures to improve the readiness of our units on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula. And not only they accepted into the Ministry of Emergency Situations the number of government bodies that were there, but also formed a fundamentally new powerful grouping of forces and government bodies. The system of people’s safety on water bodies was actually re-created, the state inspectorate for small vessels was implemented, and a new approach to the transition period of control and supervisory activities was implemented, which is carried out on completely different principles. Last year, we ensured the safety of the holiday season, and all indicators on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula have been improved following the results of 2014. This year we are creating an equine-cynological center, which will cover the mountain trails and assist tourists.
We strengthen the aviation link. Two helicopters with spillways for extinguishing fires are on combat duty. The Aviation Administration is equipped with medical modules, special devices and devices for the landing of our rescue specialists in hard-to-reach places. Strengthened and diving service. Today we have 80 percent of combat units in the Crimea have already been re-equipped with modern equipment and equipment.
Are local staff?
Vladimir Puchkov: All 100 percent of frames are local.
Vladimir Andreevich, what is important for you in work?
Vladimir Puchkov: Friendly, cohesive team of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. And, of course, timely assistance provided to everyone who is in a difficult life situation.
Announcements have appeared in Moscow and the region that the Emergencies Ministry is offering free courses for citizens.
What it is? The Emergencies Ministry knows something, but does not want to panic and therefore slowly prepares the population for something global, like, for example, in Soviet times everyone was preparing for a nuclear war and practiced the flash on the left and the flash on the right?
Vladimir Puchkov: The Ministry of Emergency Situations has no secrets, on the contrary, we try to attract the population to our activities as widely as possible. As for the courses, this is a serious systematic work, which, in my opinion, must be conducted in any country at all times.
I suppose every person should know how to do artificial respiration, stop bleeding. Our free courses explain, among other things, such simple things as, for example, what should be in a home medicine cabinet.
At the same time, I want to emphasize that this is not a sudden action under some unexpected threat, but a long-term serious work. Although a kind of trigger for her, although with a certain amount of reservations, you can still call a big trouble during the flood in Krymsk. In this context, we are paying close attention and for the third year we have been purposefully training leaders of local governments. After those tragic events in the south, we made additional efforts together with the heads of the subjects of the Russian Federation. We prepare professional crisis management specialists.
We have created and quite successfully operate a unified system of education and training of all categories of the population in the event of a threat and the occurrence of emergencies and fires.
And if a person knows that he should have a first-aid kit at home, why should he attend these courses? Is there any additional stimulation, or maybe people will get some benefits?
Vladimir Puchkov: It's not about the benefits. Everyone should know the risks of the area where he lives, how to protect them and the rules for responding to them. If it is north, these are only dangers and threats. If it is south, these are other dangers and threats. If we live near the railway, then we must know the risks associated with it. If you and I live near a busy highway, we must know, be able to and properly respond to the risks that exist in cities and cities.
There are tens of thousands of potentially hazardous facilities in our country: these are energy facilities, transport facilities, these are hazardous chemical enterprises, fire-explosive facilities, and much more. And not all of Soviet times, when there was an incredible level of secrecy, they know what kind of potentially dangerous object is located next to his house.
Vladimir Andreevich, with the arrival of spring begins the season of large floods and forest fires. Something catastrophic expect?
Vladimir Puchkov: No, no extraordinary, such as it was in the Far East or Altai - no. In recent years, tremendous work has been done in Russia to protect against spring floods. Across the country, dams, dams, hydraulic structures are practically everywhere strengthened. We put things in tight hands with the so-called ownerless defenses. This will ensure trouble-free passage of flood waters and prompt response to emerging problems, which, of course, will be.
There is a lot of talk about warming as a reason for increasing floods. This means that the standards according to which dams and other water-protective structures were built in Soviet times have become outdated today. How do you solve this problem?
Vladimir Puchkov: Let me give you a simple example. City Komsomolsk-on-Amur, the famous Mylkinskaya dam. It was built taking into account predictions of a rise in the water level at 6 meters maximum.
And last year the flood showed its temper and the dam had to be lifted by more than three meters. They worked around the clock, literally with their breasts defended people from the elements.
If the Mylkinsk Dam were not kept, not only the city would have gone under water, the shipyard and all of our aviation workshops, all of our MiG-35s, the most advanced equipment, Superjet-100 and much more. The losses would be colossal.
But we do not sit still. The unified state system of emergency prevention and response is functioning effectively. For 10 - 15 years, a unique multi-faceted work has been done in the field of prevention and risk management. A new legal and regulatory framework has been formatted. Created effective mechanisms for their implementation. Today, it can be stated that over the past 5 years there has been a steady trend in reducing the number of natural emergencies and reducing losses from man-made fires.
Reports of the first forest fires this year are coming. According to your predictions where it will be especially dangerous?
Vladimir Puchkov: Yes, the first fires in the Far East, in Siberia, in the center of the country have already begun, but this is not a record yet. Here in the past year in Primorye, January 5 extinguished the first natural fire.
This spring does not yet present any serious anomalies, although temperature records in some regions have been broken. Peatlands are under tight control. This is a great, serious, hard work. Here the Ministry of Emergency Situations works together with the Ministry of Environment and the subjects of the Russian Federation.
All planned activities in the central part of the country, including in the Moscow Region and adjacent areas, have been fulfilled. But the fact is that peatlands occupy very large areas, including houses, buildings, structures and communications built on them. Therefore, this is a topic that requires, on the one hand, close professional attention of federal structures, on the other hand - regional authorities, as well as a responsible attitude of owners, tenants of land and ordinary citizens.
Easter and the May holidays are just around the corner, are you going to limit people access to the forests?
Vladimir Puchkov: It is quite difficult to do. With increased risks of occurrence of large natural fires, fire regimes and restrictions for citizens should be introduced in a timely manner. These are decisions of local governments and subjects of the Russian Federation. But no regime will ever work if we, the citizens, do not observe fire safety measures. We have a very large number of settlements located directly in the forests. How to forbid residents to leave the gate? Therefore, a lot depends on citizens and local authorities.
At one time, the firefighters were helped by the fact that the forestry had owners, there were foresters who plowed up all the plots, removed the dead wood. There is nothing of this now. How to cope?
Vladimir Puchkov: There is a multi-level system. EMERCOM of Russia is responsible for man-made fires. In recent years, a serious leap forward has been made in this matter. We worked out all the necessary security plans and provided an integrated approach.
Among the new Emergencies Ministry fire engine with a medical module, rescue motorcycles and ATVs
But have we solved all the problems? Of course not. Although on the ground, new measures have been taken to implement protection measures when burning dry grass, the so-called controlled fall, but problems remain. Such fires require professional work and cover by the relevant units. It is not done everywhere.
Now in Transbaikalia, a number of other regions the snow has melted and at the same time the planned annealing of all pastures begins. If you do not burn the autumn dead wood, the cattle will have a small weight gain in the spring, because the green grass makes its way slowly. This is objective. These are not hundreds of thousands, these are millions of hectares of steppe development, it is difficult to control everything. And now, imagine, the bans were introduced, everything that was needed was fulfilled, the documents were signed. And the shepherd mounted his horse, set the torch on fire and galloped off. He performs annealing ... And over the hill a village, residential buildings and a House of Culture. Rivers and reservoirs under the ice, in the wells of low water. How to put out such a fire? Of course, MOE extinguished. These are the lessons that every leader must learn.
A fire engine from afar, and even in the steppe or taiga is not so easy to get to burning houses. The problem is old. Now the Russian developers, creating a new rescue equipment, rely on speed and throughput. Buying new items?
Vladimir Puchkov: Of course. We can say that we have formed a new look of modern high-tech fire and rescue equipment and machinery. The range of special firefighters and rescue vehicles has been significantly expanded by creating modern models for operation in various conditions, made using modern technologies and materials, and also having more fire and rescue equipment in their arsenal by 25 percent. These are tankers for work in low-temperature conditions, vehicles for fire and rescue in tunnels, a series of high-performance pump-and-hose complexes, a complex for rescue operations at facilities with structures made of high-strength materials.
The EMERCOM of Russia has developed and successfully recommended high-tech samples - a fire-fighting vehicle with a medical module, fire-fighting motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. They can significantly reduce the response time to fires and emergencies and provide assistance to people in trouble at the level of world standards.
We can name dozens of developments that have already successfully recommended themselves and are being used - an emergency rescue vehicle of improved maneuverability, modules for removing smoke and toxic gases from enclosed spaces, a mobile laboratory complex for assessing and controlling radiation and chemical conditions, including in emergency zones. situations, and more. On equipment, pyrotechnists of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia have the most modern remote-controlled robotic systems.
Also, scientific and technological progress has affected the water element. A combined self-propelled floating fire pumping station, as well as an experimental model of a fire-fighting and amphibious hovercraft, were developed. In general, modern domestic technical developments allow us to dynamically develop the controls and forces of the Emergencies Ministry and the Emergency Response System.
By the way, about management. A new technology, after all, requires higher-level approaches to information processing, setting tasks, and making decisions. Conform to?
Vladimir Puchkov: First, we are actively developing a system of crisis management centers. Such centers operate in all regions of the country and abroad. In their work, they use the latest progressive domestic technologies in management and risk assessment.
Second, we are introducing a space monitoring system using Russian satellite systems, modern network technologies and information technology infrastructure into the daily activities of crisis management centers in the field. In this area, we actively interact with colleagues from the European Union, the United Nations, China, Belarus and other countries. Also, the Ministry of Emergency Situations is actively developing a system for remote sensing of the Earth and a system of protection of the population and socially significant objects from impact from space. We pay great attention to the improvement of ground laboratories of observation and control.
Third, we are developing aviation rescue technologies. We are actively implementing Drones. We plan to create unmanned aviation centers in all regions of the Russian Federation, including Crimea and Sevastopol. This will allow responding to threats at a modern level, carrying out comprehensive monitoring of territories, as well as developing and implementing the latest domestic IT and other technologies.
Business breakfast with Vladimir Puchkov in the WG
New technologies can not do without in the course of the development of the Arctic - an important national project. Your ministry ensures the security of this region. What is planned to do this year?
Vladimir Puchkov: Formation of the forces of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia in the Integrated Safety System of the Population and Territories in the Arctic zone will be carried out by increasing the readiness of the current group of forces of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. This is more than 16 thousands of firefighters, rescue workers and other professionals. They are engaged in the prevention and prevention of accidents, catastrophes and disasters in northern latitudes. They extinguish fires, eliminate emergencies and perform many other tasks. For our guys, minus 50 degrees, heat, midges, swamps are not exotic, but jobs.
At the same time, the Ministry of Emergency Situations created 10 of the Arctic integrated rescue centers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia. In order to prepare rescuers for work in the harsh conditions of the Arctic last year, the Arctic rescue training and research center Vytegra, located in the Vologda region, was added to the Arctic centers.
At present, the construction of the 3 center is in operation - in Arkhangelsk, Naryan-Mar, Dudinka. This year it is planned to complete the construction and commissioning of the center in Murmansk. In the eastern part of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, in the settlements of Pevek and Provideniya, it is planned to create reserve emergency rescue equipment and equipment for conducting large-scale search and rescue operations. This ensures the safety of new economic projects and the development of the northern sea routes.
France has not responded to our offer to help with the aftermath of the terrible plane crash in the Alps. Although the Europeans are well aware that Russia has rescuers of the highest qualification. Do you think this waiver is also a kind of sanction?
Vladimir Puchkov: I think that there is no politics here. Europeans have enough high-class specialists in the mountains. We have established an excellent dialogue and direct connection with the anti-crisis center in Brussels, the United Nations, Geneva and other parts of the world. No sanctions affect the interaction of our departments.
EMERCOM of Russia has close bilateral contacts with more than 60 countries of the world. This is also Europe, this is North and South America, this is Southeast, this is Central Asia, this is China. We implement all approved plans and cooperation programs. When an emergency occurs, we react very quickly.
Just one example. Recently, a delegation from a country that joined the sanctions, Croatia, visited Moscow. During the visit, Croatian Minister of Economy Ivan Vrdolyak said that Croatia respects and respects all decisions taken by the European Union, but no decisions can prevent us from developing friendly relations with Russia. Former Croatian President Stepan Mesich added that the two countries have the political will to expand cooperation and proof of this is a huge delegation that came to Russia from Croatia.
Japan also joined the sanctions verbally. But in Tokyo, at the recent Third World Conference of the United Nations, where I was elected Vice-President, the Emperor and Empress of Japan attended the opening. From the point of view of Eastern traditions, this is a momentous moment. Everyone knows that they are elderly people and because of their age, everything is not always smooth with health. Nevertheless, they honored the conference with their presence.
But in general, the entire work of the conference was accompanied by a good working tone, understanding and mutual respect for each other. We managed to work out a joint framework agreement.
That is, many fears about the sanctions exaggerated?
Vladimir Puchkov: We have not corrected any plans and continue to interact both in a bilateral format and in the format of international organizations. This is work within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, this is both APEC and BRICS, we continue to cooperate with the European Union.
I remember that in Soviet times, mass high-rise residential construction was prohibited in Moscow. I understand that technologies are developing, but can Muscovites be reassured? Is it safe to live in skyscrapers?
Vladimir Puchkov: If you remember, there was a fire in the Moscow-City complex. We extinguished it with the use of unique aviation rescue technologies EMERCOM of Russia and helicopters. Experience has shown that even at such a height any fire can be extinguished effectively. And in this sense, the experience was useful. Now a large complex of measures has been carried out, regulatory documents have been developed at the level of international standards to prevent problems in the skyscrapers in the capital and other cities.
Now, in the period of budget cuts, have financial difficulties affected the quality of work of your department?
Vladimir Puchkov: Optimization of activity did not directly affect combat units. Abbreviations affected servicing management.
In addition, we try to optimize our activities in another way. A well-known fact - prevention of emergency situations in 10 - 12 is cheaper than eliminating the consequences of emergency situations.
MES has reduced a number of support structures, assigning functions to other structures. I will give a simple example. We have six higher education institutions. And in the same cities there were educational centers of the federal fire service. The Ministry of Emergency Situations eliminated the FPS training centers there, and their functions and the most trained teachers were transferred to universities, but they reduced all supporting structures.
We also made a number of decisions to reduce the number of control and supervisory authorities, improving the activity in this area. But we compensate all this by introducing new forms and methods of work. We implement security audit, independent risk assessment, implement a declaration system, on the one hand, and on the other hand, increase responsibility, especially for heads of organizations and institutions of small and medium-sized businesses, implement the full range of measures to introduce modern risk insurance approaches.
And yet the cuts will affect the MOE?
Vladimir Puchkov: Reduce, but not mechanically. These are supporting structures - accounting, with all due respect to it, personnel services, logistics services, at the same time we introduce modern accounting, logistics and other approaches.
MOE this year increases the number of reactive units. Those services that work directly to help and support people, we strengthen. We are increasing the number of rescue units in the North Caucasus, which are covering up new resorts, in the Far East, in the North-West. We form regional detachments to extinguish large fires and eliminate emergency situations even where the Emergencies Ministry has never been.
And what about our southern borders with Ukraine?
Vladimir Puchkov: In the south of Russia, all our concerns are with the Crimea. We have implemented a whole system of measures to improve the readiness of our units on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula. And not only they accepted into the Ministry of Emergency Situations the number of government bodies that were there, but also formed a fundamentally new powerful grouping of forces and government bodies. The system of people’s safety on water bodies was actually re-created, the state inspectorate for small vessels was implemented, and a new approach to the transition period of control and supervisory activities was implemented, which is carried out on completely different principles. Last year, we ensured the safety of the holiday season, and all indicators on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula have been improved following the results of 2014. This year we are creating an equine-cynological center, which will cover the mountain trails and assist tourists.
We strengthen the aviation link. Two helicopters with spillways for extinguishing fires are on combat duty. The Aviation Administration is equipped with medical modules, special devices and devices for the landing of our rescue specialists in hard-to-reach places. Strengthened and diving service. Today we have 80 percent of combat units in the Crimea have already been re-equipped with modern equipment and equipment.
Are local staff?
Vladimir Puchkov: All 100 percent of frames are local.
Vladimir Andreevich, what is important for you in work?
Vladimir Puchkov: Friendly, cohesive team of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. And, of course, timely assistance provided to everyone who is in a difficult life situation.
Himself a lifeguard
Announcements have appeared in Moscow and the region that the Emergencies Ministry is offering free courses for citizens.
What it is? The Emergencies Ministry knows something, but does not want to panic and therefore slowly prepares the population for something global, like, for example, in Soviet times everyone was preparing for a nuclear war and practiced the flash on the left and the flash on the right?
Vladimir Puchkov: The Ministry of Emergency Situations has no secrets, on the contrary, we try to attract the population to our activities as widely as possible. As for the courses, this is a serious systematic work, which, in my opinion, must be conducted in any country at all times.
I suppose every person should know how to do artificial respiration, stop bleeding. Our free courses explain, among other things, such simple things as, for example, what should be in a home medicine cabinet.
At the same time, I want to emphasize that this is not a sudden action under some unexpected threat, but a long-term serious work. Although a kind of trigger for her, although with a certain amount of reservations, you can still call a big trouble during the flood in Krymsk. In this context, we are paying close attention and for the third year we have been purposefully training leaders of local governments. After those tragic events in the south, we made additional efforts together with the heads of the subjects of the Russian Federation. We prepare professional crisis management specialists.
We have created and quite successfully operate a unified system of education and training of all categories of the population in the event of a threat and the occurrence of emergencies and fires.
And if a person knows that he should have a first-aid kit at home, why should he attend these courses? Is there any additional stimulation, or maybe people will get some benefits?
Vladimir Puchkov: It's not about the benefits. Everyone should know the risks of the area where he lives, how to protect them and the rules for responding to them. If it is north, these are only dangers and threats. If it is south, these are other dangers and threats. If we live near the railway, then we must know the risks associated with it. If you and I live near a busy highway, we must know, be able to and properly respond to the risks that exist in cities and cities.
There are tens of thousands of potentially hazardous facilities in our country: these are energy facilities, transport facilities, these are hazardous chemical enterprises, fire-explosive facilities, and much more. And not all of Soviet times, when there was an incredible level of secrecy, they know what kind of potentially dangerous object is located next to his house.
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