The military police is a structural unit, the existence of which many civilians know only by hearsay. Unlike the usual police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, military police solve highly specialized tasks within the Armed Forces. Their activities are regulated by federal laws, but often remain behind the scenes of the media space.
Created to maintain law and order in the army, the military police perform functions that cannot be assigned to ordinary employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. She works with military personnel, monitors the implementation of regulations, investigates crimes in the military environment, and even participates in combat operations. However, its powers are strictly limited - they do not apply to civilians unless they are involved in military service.
In this article we will look at what are military police for?, what tasks it solves in practice, how it differs from other law enforcement agencies and how it interacts with civilian structures. The material was prepared taking into account current regulations of 2026 and expert comments from lawyers.
Who are military police and what do they do?
The Russian Military Police is an independent unit within the Ministry of Defense, created in 2011 on the basis of the former military commandant's office. Its employees wear special uniforms with distinctive signs, and their activities are regulated Federal Law No. 7-FZ dated February 3, 2014.
⚠️ Attention: Military police are not subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and do not have the right to detain civilians without connection with military service. Their jurisdiction is strictly limited to the military environment.
Main areas of work:
- Monitoring compliance with statutes in military units.
- Crime investigationcommitted by military personnel (from desertion to theft of military property).
- Security at military facilities, including training grounds and ammunition depots.
- Participation in combat operations - for example, escorting convoys or guarding prisoners.
Unlike employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, military police undergo additional military training, including tactical shooting and combat fundamentals. This allows them to operate effectively in combat or emergency situations at military facilities.
Differences between the military police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs: comparative table
Many people confuse the military police with the regular police, but they have fundamentally different tasks and powers. Below are the key differences in the table format:
| Criterion | Military police | Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs |
|---|---|---|
| Submission | Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation | Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation |
| Object of control | Military personnel, military installations, statutory offenses | Civilians, public order, criminal offenses |
| Powers regarding civil | Limited (only in connection with military service) | Complete (detention, search, drawing up protocols) |
| Participation in hostilities | Yes (security, escort, patrol) | No (except for special forces such as riot police in special cases) |
| Crime Investigation | Military only (desertion, failure to comply with orders, etc.) | All types of crimes (theft, fights, fraud) |
Military police cannot detain a civilian for violating traffic rules or petty hooliganism - this is the competence of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
It is important to understand that military police do not replace the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but complement them in a specific area. For example, if a soldier committed a theft in a store, he will be detained by the police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but if he stole a weapon from the unit’s warehouse, this is already the competence of the military police.
The main tasks of the military police: from patrols to investigations
The functions of the military police are enshrined in Military Police Charter and include a wide range of areas. Let's look at the key ones:
1. Control over the implementation of charters
Military police enforce Disciplinary Charter of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, including:
- Rules for wearing the uniform.
- Execution of orders from commanders.
- Compliance with the daily routine of the unit.
Example: If a soldier appears on duty drunk, he may be detained by a military policeman and handed over to the commander for disciplinary action.2. War crimes investigation
The competence of the military police includes cases under articles Criminal Code of the Russian Federationrelated to military service:
- Desertion (Art. 338 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
- Violation of statutory rules (Art. 332 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
- Theft of weapons or ammunition (Art. 226 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
What is the penalty for desertion?
The maximum penalty is up to 7 years in prison (Part 2 of Article 338 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
3. Security of military facilities
Military police patrol:
- Military towns.
- Ammunition warehouses.
- Test sites and combat zones.
4. Participation in combat operations
In conditions of war or counter-terrorism operations, military police:
- Protect rear communications.
- Convoy prisoners.
- They patrol the liberated territories.
⚠️ Attention: In the NWO zone, military police have the right to detain civilians suspected of collaborating with the enemy, but only if there are grounds (for example, wearing an enemy army uniform).
Structure of the military police: who does what and what
The military police has a complex hierarchical structure, including several levels. Main divisions:
1. General Directorate of Military Police
- Coordinates the activities of all departments.
- Develops regulations.
- Interacts with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSB on issues of joint competence.
2. Territorial authorities
- Military commandant's offices - control order in the garrisons.
- Patrol services — serve on the streets of military camps.
- Investigation departments — investigate crimes among military personnel.
3. Special units
- Military intelligence military police — collects information about violations in units.
- Military police riot police - suppresses mass unrest in the military environment (for example, riots in disciplinary battalions).
If you are a serviceman and witness a crime in your unit, you need to contact the military police, and not the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
How do military police interact with civilians?
Although the main activity of the military police is aimed at the army environment, in some cases it overlaps with civilian structures:
1. Joint operations with the Ministry of Internal Affairs
- Search for deserters — the military police transmits data to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for search.
- Gun control — interaction in identifying thefts from warehouses.
2. Working with ships
- Military police act as witnesses or experts in matters related to military service.
- Transfer investigation materials to military courts.
3. Maintaining public order in military camps
- They patrol the areas where military families live.
- React to offenses committed by civilians on the territory of military units (for example, theft or vandalism).
⚠️ Attention: If a civilian becomes a victim of a crime on the territory of a military unit (for example, robbery), he has the right to contact the military police, but the investigation will be transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Can military police detain a civilian?
This is the most controversial issue. Answer: yes, but only in strictly defined cases.
When detention is legal:
✅ On the territory of a military unit - if a civilian violates the access control regime (for example, entered an ammunition depot).
✅ In the war zone - if a person is suspected of collaborating with the enemy.
✅ When committing a crime against a military personnel - for example, an attack on a soldier.
When detention is illegal:
❌ On a city street without connection with military service.
❌ For traffic violations or petty hooliganism.
❌ No reason (just “to check documents”).
☑️ What to do if you were detained by military police without reason?
Common myths about military police
There are many rumors surrounding the military police. Let's look at the most common ones:
❌ Myth 1: “Military police can arrest anyone for criticizing the army”
🔹 Reality:Criticism of the army is not a criminal offense unless it contains calls for extremism or violence. Military police do not deal with such cases — this is the competence of the FSB or Investigative Committee.
❌ Myth 2: “They can search the car for no reason”
🔹 Reality: To inspect a vehicle, grounds are needed (suspicion of transporting weapons, ammunition or drugs on the territory of the unit). Random checks on the highway - competence traffic police.
❌ Myth 3: “The military police report directly to the president”
🔹 Reality: It is part of the structure Ministry of Defense, and is not an independent department. The President can issue orders through the Secretary of Defense, but not directly.
❌ Myth 4: “You don’t have to listen to them because they are not real police officers”
🔹 Reality: Military police have the same rights to detain and use force as employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but only within its competence.
FAQ: Answers to popular questions
Can military police fine for traffic violations?
No, this is a competence traffic police. Military police can respond to traffic violations only if they are committed on the territory of a military unit (for example, speeding in a garrison).
Where can I complain about the actions of the military police?
Accepts complaints:
- 📄 Commander of a military unit - if the violation was committed by a patrolman.
- 📄 Military prosecutor's office - on facts of abuse of authority.
- 📄 Investigative Committee - if the actions of the police officer resulted in serious consequences.
How is the military police different from the military prosecutor's office?
Military police identifies and documents offenses, and the military prosecutor's office oversees compliance with laws and supports the prosecution in court. Simply put, the police are “operatives,” and the prosecutor’s office is “supervisors.”
Can military police use weapons?
Yes, but only in cases provided for Federal Law "On Military Police":
- 🔫 For self-defense or protection of others.
- 🔫 When detaining an armed criminal.
- 🔫 To prevent escape from custody.
At the same time, they are obliged to warn of their intention to use weapons (except in cases where delay creates danger).
How to become a military policeman?
Requirements:
- 🎖 Russian citizenship.
- 🎖 Age 18–40 years.
- 🎖 No criminal record.
- 🎖 Completing military service or studying at a military university.
Candidates pass psychological testing, polygraph testing and additional training in legal disciplines.