Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
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Following a meeting on the aftermath of the extreme snowfall in Kamchatka Krai, Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev issued a number of instructions to federal ministries and agencies. Far Eastern regions are prepared to provide specialized equipment for snowfall relief efforts.
Kamchatka Krai Governor Vladimir Solodov, Minister for the Development of the Far East and Arctic Alexey Chekunkov, Sakhalin Oblast Governor Valery Limarenko, Deputy Minister for Civil Defense, Emergencies, and Disaster Relief Viktor Yatsutsenko, and other representatives of federal ministries and agencies participated in the discussion.
"The main task is to provide prompt assistance. It's clear that weather can vary. Sometimes, it creates significant difficulties for people. This is precisely the case in Kamchatka right now. Children can't always get to school. It's not always possible to get to the hospital or the store. We've agreed with our colleagues on the necessary steps," said Yuri Trutnev.
According to Viktor Yatsutsenko, Deputy Minister for Civil Defense, Emergencies, and Disaster Relief, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) team is fully operational in the region and is equipped with all the necessary equipment and resources to respond to this type of emergency. During the response, special attention is being paid to ensuring the uninterrupted operation of essential facilities and social infrastructure.
Emergency recovery operations are underway in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Road crews are clearing the road network, prioritizing access roads to socially significant facilities, and removing snow. The road situation is being monitored by the emergency response team.
Currently, 132 units of equipment are being used to clear the street and road network in three municipalities, including: Yelizovsky Municipal District – 45 units, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Urban District – 64 units, Vilyuchinsky Urban District – 23 units.
Targeted assistance is provided to the population, including those with limited mobility, to clear the areas around residential buildings and driveways.
A RSChS group of over 500 personnel and 180 pieces of equipment has been deployed to the response. Additional reserves of forces and resources have been formed.
At the direction of Yuri Trutnev, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations has allocated a special aircraft to transport specialized equipment from Sakhalin to Kamchatka. Specifically, ten pieces of equipment are planned to be urgently transported to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, including Ural-4320 and DEM 133 snowplows, Amkodor-352 and SEM 639 loaders, and a TCM 350 auger rotor.
"The Ministry of Emergency Situations is providing an Il-76 aircraft, which will transport several specialized vehicles to assist with snow removal. This equipment will be provided by Sakhalin. We have agreed with Sakhalin Region Governor Valery Igorevich Limarenko that he will provide nine units of equipment. They will then be reimbursed from federal funds. I spoke with Sergei Semyonovich Sobyanin and asked him to also assist. He said he would instruct his road services, and assistance will be provided," the Deputy Prime Minister said.
Yuri Trutnev instructed the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East, in conjunction with other federal ministries, to work on the transportation of ten units of specialized snow removal equipment provided by the Moscow city government to Kamchatka Krai.
At the Deputy Prime Minister's request, Primorsky Krai will provide specialized snow removal equipment. Khabarovsk Krai leadership is working on providing assistance to Kamchatka.
Vladimir Solodov, Governor of Kamchatka Krai, reported on the situation in the region. "Kamchatka has faced severe trials from the elements: an unprecedented series of powerful cyclones has seriously tested its resilience. In these challenging conditions, utility and road services are working around the clock, pushing their limits. Concerned residents, rescuers, military personnel, and volunteers have come to the rescue. Medical and energy workers are demonstrating true courage, performing their duties in extreme situations. All resources have been mobilized to address the aftermath of the storm. I express my sincere gratitude to Yuri Petrovich Trutnev for his attention to the region's problems and the support he has provided. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has responded and is now on the front lines of the fight against the elements," the Governor said.
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations has agreed to provide the Kamchatka Territory with four all-terrain vehicles for medical personnel.
In the spring, the Russian Ministry of Transport, together with the leadership of the Kamchatka Krai, will assess the condition of the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky street network in terms of transport restoration, highway restoration, and street road network restoration, and will determine the procedure for allocating assistance for restoration.
Legal regulation of emergency response was discussed. The Kamchatka Krai leadership, together with the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources, agreed on the feasibility of establishing temporary snow storage sites. Amendments to departmental regulations of Rospotrebnadzor and the Russian Ministry of Construction were discussed to classify snow without reagents as a different waste class. These proposals are being promptly reviewed with the Kamchatka leadership.
"Unfortunately, we regularly encounter situations where regulatory documents don't align. This happened, among other things, during the fires in Yakutia. It happened when a train derailed on the Trans-Siberian Railway. It suddenly turns out we can't reinforce the track bed because we can't take rock from the quarry. Now we have to figure out what to do with snow in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The same problems arise during forest fires, when we learn that bypass lanes around populated areas can't be built. These are regulatory issues; the paperwork needs to be written correctly. This needs to be done. These paperwork primarily relate to legislative work in the field of ecology and environmental protection. I respect this work, but nevertheless, during emergency situations where human life and health are at risk, this regulation should be handled by the Ministry of Emergency Situations, not the Ministry of Natural Resources. A whole range of restrictions must be eliminated. Moreover, it was eliminated quickly and without delay,” emphasized Yuri Trutnev.
As a reminder, powerful cyclones from the Sea of Okhotsk impacted the Kamchatka Krai. From December 27, 2025, to January 17, 2026, more than 4.5 times the monthly average precipitation fell. Snow depth in some areas of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky reached over 2.5 meters, with drifts exceeding five meters. According to the Hydrometeorological Center, similar snowfalls were recorded in Kamchatka more than 50 years ago.
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