Battling Disasters, Saving Lives: Emergency Rescue Workers of Russia

The Emergency Rescue Corps, the predecessor of EMERCOM, was established on December 27, 1990.

Since August 2014, about 55,500 tons of humanitarian aid had been supplied to the beleaguered Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine via EMERCOM convoys.

Ukrainian refugees disembark from an EMERCOM transport aircraft at an airfield in Chelyabinsk.

Diver from the Russian Ministry for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Disaster Relief in the sea off Alushta city.

Russia's EMERCOM has some of the most efficient transport and fire fighting aircraft, like the Beriev Be-200 pictured above.

Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, previously held the office of the Minister of the Emergency Situations. He was in charge of Russia's emergency services for 21 years, from 1991 until 2012.

Rescue workers deal with a mock train wreck during a demonstration training exercise held as part of the 2013 Integrated Safety and Security Exhibition, at the EMERCOM Rescue Center № 179 training range in the Moscow region.

Firefighters get creative during the EMERCOM XXIV Fire-Fighter Sport Championship in Chelyabinsk.

EMERCOM rescue workers participate in the rehearsal of a parade at the Red Square in Moscow.

Emergency Ministry firefighters rescue a cat while dousing a fire in a residential building.

Some EMERCOM aircraft are outfitted with special equipment necessary to transport injured or severely ill adults and children.

EMERCOM also often has to deal with the aftermath of various natural disasters and weather phenomena, ranging from forest fires to ice drifts.

Above: Employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations observe ice drift on the River Shelon near the village of Yegolnik in Novgorod Region of Russia..