11 Mar 2022 15:21

Russian National Guard chief highlights National Guard's special role during Ukraine operation

MOSCOW. March 11 (Interfax) - Russian National Guard director Viktor Zolotov has said the National Guard units are playing an important role during the special operation in Ukraine, in particular, while protecting the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plants and other important infrastructure facilities.

"Army Gen. Viktor Zolotov emphasized that National Guard units are playing a special role in protecting vital infrastructure and transport communications, including nuclear power facilities, among them the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plants," the National Guard said.

On Friday, Zolotov visited the main military clinical hospital of the National Guard troops in Balashikha outside Moscow, where he met with servicemen and employees of the National Guard who are being treated.

"The National Guard troops jointly with units of the Russian Armed Forces and the troops of the LPR and DPR [Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics] are performing service and combat tasks during the special military operation in Ukraine," the National Guard director said.

"The military personnel of the service are taking a very active part in military operations, ensuring public security and maintaining law and order, and protecting the local population from criminal encroachments and looting in the settlements liberated from nationalist armed formations," the Federal Guard Service said.

Besides, Russian Guard officers are assisting local residents in establishing peaceful life, providing food and medicine, as well as in ensuring security, and escorting humanitarian convoys, the National Guard said.

"The head of the service expressed gratitude to the servicemen and employees of the Russian National Guard, who are demonstrating a high level of training and combat skills, acting precisely and professionally, and displaying genuine courage and heroism," the Federal Guard Service said.

Zolotov presented state medals to Russian National Guard officers who distinguished themselves in the performance of combat tasks. The Orders of Courage were bestowed upon Police Col. Denis Stepanov and Russian National Guard Special Forces officer Vasily Z.