Previously, the National Guard received tank units.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to establish the Main Headquarters of the National Guard troops.
According to the document published on the legal acts portal, the new structure will be responsible for planning activities to maintain the combat readiness of the National Guard, overseeing the "operational-combat use" of its troops, and conducting intelligence activities.
The headquarters will carry out intelligence operations "in order to fulfill the tasks assigned to the National Guard troops," the decree states. In addition, the new structure will have the authority to "develop and implement state policy" in its areas. In particular, the headquarters will "forecast" and "assess" military threats and potential future conflicts, as well as prepare proposals for strategic planning documents.
According to the decree, the headquarters will be led by the director of the National Guard — 72-year-old Viktor Zolotov, who served as Putin's security chief during his first two presidential terms and his prime ministership (from 2000 to 2013).
Since last year, the National Guard under Zolotov has received its first tank units, effectively transforming it into the second army. The National Guard has also been supplemented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs special forces unit "Grom" in addition to the SOBR and OMON.
As of 2024, the agency had 370,000 personnel, and Zolotov promised to increase this number to control the situation not only in Russia but also in the occupied territories of Ukraine.
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