The Coast Guard of the FSB Border Service of Russia (), previously known as the Maritime Units of the

KGB Border Troops The Soviet Border Troops () were the border guard of the Soviet Union, subordinated to the Soviet state security agency: first to the ''Cheka''/OGPU, then to NKVD/ MGB and, finally, to the KGB. Accordingly, they were known as NKVD Border Secu ...

(), is the

coast guard A coast guard or coastguard is a Maritime Security Regimes, maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with cust ...

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

. The purpose of the formation of the Coast Guard of the FSB Border Service of Russia is to create a modern comprehensive and multifunctional system for protecting the national interests of Russia in the border area on the border area ( sea coast, inland sea waters and the

territorial sea Territorial waters are informally an area of water where a sovereign state has jurisdiction, including internal waters, the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone, and potentially the extended continental shelf ( ...

), in the

exclusive economic zone An exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as prescribed by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is an area of the sea in which a sovereign state has exclusive rights regarding the exploration and use of marine natural resource, reso ...

and on the continental shelf of Russia, taking into account the ongoing changes in political, economic, social life in the country and providing favorable conditions for the implementation of legal economic, fishing and other activities in the maritime border area of Russia. Currently, the Coast Guard is part of the

FSB Border Service of Russia The Border Service of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation ( BS of the FSB of the RF, ) is a branch of the Federal Security Service of Russia tasked with patrol of the Russian border. The terms Border Service of Russia () and ...

().

History

Marine Units of the Border Troops of the USSR

After the end of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

in 1945, the Marine Units of the Border Troops (MChPV) carried out the protection of the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

's maritime borders until its collapse. In different periods of border troops, along with their member MChPV, included in the structure of the various law enforcement agencies of the Soviet Union: the

NKVD The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs (, ), abbreviated as NKVD (; ), was the interior ministry and secret police of the Soviet Union from 1934 to 1946. The agency was formed to succeed the Joint State Political Directorate (OGPU) se ...

, MGB, MVD USSR. In 1957, the Marine units of the border troops, along with the rest of the border units, became part of the State Security Committee under the

Council of Ministers of the USSR The Council of Ministers of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ( rus, Совет министров СССР, r=Sovet Ministrov SSSR, p=sɐˈvʲet mʲɪˈnʲistrəf ˌɛsˌɛsˌɛsˈɛr), sometimes abbreviated as Sovmin or referred to as the ...

, which in 1978 was transformed into an independent state committee – USSR State Security Committee (KGB of the USSR). On October 22, 1991, the KGB of the USSR was abolished, on the basis of its former structures, 3 separate departments were created: the Inter-Republican Security Service, the Central Intelligence Service and the Committee for the Protection of the State Border of the USSR. The latter is responsible for the transfer of powers for the protection of the state border, in connection with which the Border Troops (and, accordingly, the Marine units that are part of them) are transferred to his subordination. On October 28, 1992, by Decree of the

President of the Russian Federation The president of Russia, officially the president of the Russian Federation (), is the executive head of state of Russia. The president is the chair of the Federal State Council and the supreme commander-in-chief of the Russian Armed Forces. I ...

No. 1309 Committee for the Protection of the State Border of the USSR was abolished, in accordance with which the Border Troops, together with their Naval Units, were transferred to the subordination of the Ministry of Security of the Russian Federation (MBRF) formed on January 24, 1992. On June 12, 1992, the Border Troops of the Russian Federation formed as part of the MBRF on the basis of the former Committee for the Protection of the State Border and the troops subordinate to it, while the ''Maritime Units of the Border Troops of the Russian Federation'' (MChPV of Russia) are one of their components. On December 21, 1993, the MBRF was abolished, on its basis the Federal Counterintelligence Service of the Russian Federation was created, while on December 30, 1993, on the basis of the Border Troops and their control bodies, an independent federal executive body was created: the Federal Border Service – Main Command of the Border Troops of the Russian Federation (FPS – Glavkomat).

Maritime Border Forces

In 1994, as part of the FPS – Glavkomat, the MChPV of Russia was reorganized into the ''Naval Forces of the Border Troops of the Russian Federation''. The command of the naval forces of the Border Troops of the Russian Federation was created – instead of the post of the Deputy Commander of the Border Troops of the Russian Federation for the naval unit, the post of Commander of the naval forces of the Border Troops of the Russian Federation was approved. December 30, 1994, the FPS – Glavkomat changes its name and is transformed into the Federal Border Service of the Russian Federation (FPS of Russia)

Marine Guard

August 29, 1997, in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 950 "On measures to ensure the protection of marine biological resources and state control in this area", on the basis of the Maritime Forces of the Border Troops, as well as the staff and material and technical means of the central office and regional fisheries protection bodies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Russian Federation (Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Russia), the ''Marine Guard of the Federal Border Service of the Russian Federation'' (MOKhR FPS of Russia) is formed as part of the FPS of Russia. Since this period, the MOKhR FPS of Russia, in addition to the defense of the water boundaries of the State Border of the Russian Federation, has been assigned the task of protecting aquatic biological resources in internal sea waters, as well as in the

Caspian Caspian can refer to: *The Caspian Sea *The Caspian Depression, surrounding the northern part of the Caspian Sea *The Caspians, the ancient people living near the Caspian Sea *The Caspian languages spoken in northern Iran and southeastern Azerbaij ...

and

Azov Azov (, ), previously known as Azak ( Turki/ Kypchak: ), is a town in Rostov Oblast, Russia, situated on the Don River just from the Sea of Azov, which derives its name from the town. The population is History Early settlements in the vici ...

Seas. As part of the Federal Border Guard Service of Russia, a management body of the Maritime Guard is formed – the Department of Maritime Guard Admiral I. I. Naletov is appointed Deputy Director – Head of the Department of Maritime Security of the Federal Border Guard Service of Russia, since 1999 – Vice Admiral V. K. Logvinenko. On July 1, 2003, the Federal Border Service of the Russian Federation is abolished, and its functions are transferred to the jurisdiction of the Border Service created by the same Decree as part of the

Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation �СБ, ФСБ России (FSB) is the principal security agency of Russia and the main successor agency to the Soviet Union's KGB; its immediate predecessor was the Federal Counteri ...

(FSB of Russia). To organize the activities of the newly created structure, the Organizational Department of the FSB Border Service of Russia is formed, within which, on the basis of the former Maritime Department, the Maritime Directorate of the FSB of Russia is organized – the control body of the ''Maritime Guard of the FSB Border Service of Russia'' (MOKhR of the FSB of Russia).

Coast Guard

On July 20, 2004, on the basis of the Maritime Guard of the FSB of Russia, the ''Coast Guard of the FSB Border Service of Russia'' (BOKhR of the FSB of Russia) was formed. In the Organizational Department of the FSB of Russia, the former Maritime Administration is reorganized into the Coast Guard Administration of the FSB Border Service of Russia. In 2005, the Russian Federation abolished such a type of power structures as border troops – since that time, all military formations, government agencies, inspection bodies and their management bodies of the FSB Border Service of Russia (including the Coast Guard) are called border agencies. At the same time, in 2005, the FSB Border Service of Russia begins to transfer the system of manning the personnel of military units (ships) of the border agencies completely to a contract basis, with a gradual reduction in the number of servicemen doing military service by

conscription Conscription, also known as the draft in the United States and Israel, is the practice in which the compulsory enlistment in a national service, mainly a military service, is enforced by law. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it conti ...

. The process of transition to a contractual basis, which equally affected the bodies of the security guard of the FSB of Russia, was completed by the beginning of 2009. On August 20, 2007, the Coast Guard Directorate was reorganized into the Coast Guard Department of the FSB Border Service of Russia. At present, the main personnel of the Coast Guard, as well as all border agencies of the FSB of Russia, are military personnel doing military service under contract, with the exception of the OMBIR bodies, staffed by federal government officials and civilian personnel.

Training and study

The FSB Coast Guard Institute (), located in

Anapa Anapa (, , ) is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, town in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, located on the northern coast of the Black Sea near the Sea of Azov. As of the 2021 Russian census, it had a population of 81,863. It is one of the largest ...

, was established in 2007. Cadets study for 4 years.

Ranks

Missions

The Russian Coast Guard has various missions, such as the protection of Russia's maritime borders, ensuring safe navigation in territorial waters, assisting vessels and aircraft, weather reconnaissance, fisheries protection, and fighting against smuggling and piracy. To perform these missions the Russian Coast Guard uses a variety of vessels and aircraft.

Equipment

The Russian Coast Guard is equipped with a variety of vessels, aircraft, and small arms/mounted weapons.

Vessels

Vessels of the Russian Coast Guard are: * Frigates (FFG): 2 – (both Pacific – and ) * Corvettes: 1 – (Pacific – ''Sokol'') * Offshore patrol vessels: up to 25 various types: 14 – (7 Black Sea; 3 Pacific; 2 Northern; 1 in Baltic and 1 in Caspian as of 2022), 3 – (2 Northern, 1 Pacific); 4 – ''Project 850285'' (all Pacific) * Patrol

icebreaker An icebreaker is a special-purpose ship or boat designed to move and navigate through ice-covered waters, and provide safe waterways for other boats and ships. Although the term usually refers to ice-breaking ships, it may also refer to smaller ...

s: 4 – (1 Northern, 3 Pacific as of 2020), 10 – (9 Pacific; 1 Northern); Future: – planned for service entry with the Russian Navy and Coast Guard toward the mid-2020s * Patrol boats (PCF): over 140 patrol boats, 30 – , 21 – , 56 – , 22 – Project 1496M/M1 patrol vessels (6 Pacific, 9 Black Sea, 3 Caspian, 1 Northern, 3 Baltic), 4 – , 3 – , 1 – , 2 – , 3 – * River craft: 18 – , 8 – , 4 – , 1 – * Coastal logistics ships: 7 – * Armed seagoing tug: – ( Northern, 6 Pacific, 2 Black Sea, 1 Caspian, 1 Baltic) The number of vessels listed above are based on a list of currently active Russian Coast Guard vessels.

Aircraft

Antonov An-26 The Antonov An-26 (NATO reporting name: Curl) is a twin-engined turboprop civilian and military transport aircraft, designed and produced in the Soviet Union from 1969 to 1986.Gordon, Yefim. Komissarov, Dmitry & Sergey. "Antonov's Turboprop Twins ...

Antonov An-72 The Antonov An-72 (NATO reporting name: Coaler) is a Soviet transport aircraft, developed by Antonov. It was designed as a STOL transport and intended as a replacement for the Antonov An-26, but variants have found success as commercial freigh ...

Ilyushin Il-76 The Ilyushin Il-76 (; NATO reporting name: Candid) is a multi-purpose, fixed-wing, four-engine turbofan strategic airlifter designed by the Soviet Union's Ilyushin design bureau as a commercial freighter in 1967, to replace the Antonov An-1 ...

Mil Mi-8 The Mil Mi-8 (, NATO reporting name: Hip) is a medium twin-turbine helicopter, originally designed by the Soviet Union, Soviet Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute, Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) in the 1960s and introduced into the ...

Kamov Ka-27 The Kamov Ka-27 (NATO reporting name 'Helix') is a military helicopter developed for the Soviet Navy, and as of 2024 is in service in various countries including Russia, Ukraine, Vietnam, China, South Korea, and India. Variants include the Ka-2 ...

* Ka-226T *

Schiebel Camcopter S-100 The Schiebel Camcopter S-100 is an Austrian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) using a rotorcraft design. Design and development Produced by the Austrian company Schiebel, it was developed from 2003 to 2005. With a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of ...

Weapons

The Russian Coast Guard uses a variety of weapons, this includes but is not limited to the AK series of rifles, pistols, grenade based weapons such as the

DP-64 The DP-64 Nepryadva is a Russian special-purpose double-barreled over/under grenade launcher designed to protect surfaced submarines, ships, dockyards, water development works, and other coastal installations from combat swimmers and naval special ...

hand anti-diver grenade launcher and the 30 mm

AGS-17 The AGS-17 Plamya ( Russian: Пламя; ''Flame'') is a Soviet-designed automatic grenade launcher in service worldwide. Description The AGS-17 is a heavy infantry support weapon designed to operate from a tripod or mounted on an installation ...

automatic grenade launcher, and a variety of machine guns from 7.62 mm machine guns to 14.5 mm machine guns. Large weapons aboard vessels can be anything from naval guns, torpedoes, and missiles..

Commanders

Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

Innokentiy Nalyotov (1996–1999) *

Vice-Admiral Vice admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, usually equivalent to lieutenant general and air marshal. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral. Australia In the Royal Australian Navy, the rank of vic ...

Valery Logvinenko (1999–2004) *

Vyacheslav Serzhanin (2004–2006) *

Colonel-General Colonel general is a military rank used in some armies. It is particularly associated with Germany, where historically general officer ranks were one grade lower than in the Commonwealth and the United States, and was a rank above full , but be ...

Viktor Trufanov (2006–2011) *

Yuri Alexeyev (2011–2017) *

Gennady Medvedev (2017–present)

Gallery

Vorovskiy2009PortAngeles.jpg, The Russian Coast Guard Krivak III-class frigate in 2009 Russian coast guard vessel 183.jpg, Ship of a coast guard"Rubin". (8054056184).jpg, Корабль Амурской флотилии 146.jpg, Береговая охрана (Курилы 2015.04.18).JPG, Береговая охрана 2 катер 635.JPG, Река Амур, пограничный катер на возд подушке.JPG,

References

External links

{{authority control Federal Security Service Border guards Military of Russia Borders of Russia