Russian Emergencies Ministry has fewer generals than other security services

As part of reform of the Russian Emergencies Ministry, 11 rescue centers have been set up in the regions, Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu announced at a press conference in Moscow.

"Over the last five years we have reduced 16 regiments, 6 brigades. Civil defense troops have been reduced by 25 per cent," the minister said, pointing out that 11 rescue centers had been set up in the regions using the saved finances.

At present the main goals of the reform conducted in the ministry are projects of the so-called double financing which envisage creation of monitoring and forecasting centers in the country's regions, Shoigu explained.

The ministry's current budget is 17 billion roubles ($1 equals approximately 30 roubles), which is 5 per cent of the Russian Defense Ministry, he pointed out. The ministry's staff numbers about 370,000 people, plus about 70,000 experts and teachers that work under the ministry.

The ministry has only 86 generals, which is "significantly fewer than in other security services," Shoigu said.