December 10 is the Day of the Communications Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia: history and traditions

Every year on December 10 in Russia, employees of the communications service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, specialists on whom the smooth operation of the entire law enforcement system depends, celebrate their professional holiday. They provide a reliable and secure exchange of operational information between the departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In 2025, the holiday falls on a Wednesday. Read about the history of the profession, its development and traditions of celebration in the Izvestia article.

Communications Service Day of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia – 2025: the history of the profession

Officially, the professional holiday of employees of the communications service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (MVD RF) was established by order of the head of the department on August 9, 1999. Up to this point, Interior Ministry signallers had informally celebrated it on May 7 along with civilian and military specialists on Radio Day.

As a result, the date of the celebration was chosen as the day of the foundation of the Communications Department of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs — December 10, 1949. It was then that the Ministry established a commission for the acceptance of Automatic Telephone Exchange (PBX) facilities, responsible for organizing reliable communications between departments.

The very history of departmental communication goes back to the days of the Russian Empire. At that time, the Ministry of the Interior used the government's telegraph network and special telephone lines to manage gendarmerie and police units, especially in transport and in large cities. Already at that time, the logic of creating closed communication channels intended exclusively for government needs was emerging.

The revolution of 1917 put this process on pause. During the Civil War of 1917-1922, the departmental communication system that previously existed in the structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Empire was actually destroyed. Government telegraphs and telephone networks were transferred under the control of the military revolutionary bodies - the Red Army and the Cheka, which used them for operational command in combat conditions.

Only by 1922, with the formation of the NKVD of the RSFSR, the process of restoring infrastructure based on the surviving wire lines began. However, the full-fledged formation of a specialized communications service in the internal affairs system became possible only after several decades.

After the Great Patriotic War, in the context of the fight against banditry, it was necessary to quickly establish cooperation between the territorial authorities and the central office. Until 1957, the Soviet police did not have their own radio communications at all, the guards and squads worked either via wired lines or through regular mail and telegraph, which significantly slowed down the response to crimes.

In 1962, departments and groups of operatechnics and communications, staffed by specialists with radio engineering training, appeared in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the RSFSR. Active modernization has begun — ultrashortwave radio stations "Mars" and portable "Uran" have entered service, significantly enhancing the mobility and technical capabilities of law enforcement officers.

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The first "Mars" and "Uranus" were low-channel, so in large cities it was necessary to install more than ten different stations just to ensure communication between services in one ATC. Remote control of the transmitters over city telephone lines operated up to a maximum of 2 km and did not always allow the antennas to be moved to high-rise buildings.

In the following years, a centralized state system was built, uniting disparate nodes into the main center for special and operational communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This structure has become an essential coordination element responsible for secure data transmission at all levels of management. The flow of information from the duty squads has grown so much that the very mode of operation of the duty units has changed, it has become possible to detain criminals in hot pursuit, focusing on real-time messages from patrols.

After 1991, the service went through a number of structural reforms. In 1998, the Department of Special Equipment and Communications and the specialized research Institute were merged into the NGO "Special Equipment and Communications" of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia — a rare case when a full-fledged scientific and production association was created within the law enforcement agency, which was simultaneously engaged in the development, testing and implementation of communications equipment.

In 2004, it was integrated into the Logistics Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, and subsequently into the Department of Information Technology, Communications and Information Security.

Today, the communications service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs operates at the forefront of digital technologies: modern platforms are being introduced, satellite channels and Internet protocols are actively used, and all levels of the department - from regional divisions to central ones — are integrated into a single, securely protected information network.

Traditions of celebrating the Day of the Communications Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia

On December 10, solemn meetings are held in all territorial divisions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the leadership summarizes the results of the year, recognizes the best specialists, presents awards, certificates of honor and commendations for achievements in their work.

Educational events, open lectures at specialized institutes of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, presentations of new developments in the field of communications, and training seminars for cadets and students are held on this day.

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Special exhibitions are being opened in departmental museums, demonstrating the evolution of communication facilities, from telegraphic devices to modern server complexes. Exhibitions of retro equipment, interactive tours and events aimed at popularizing the profession among young people are also being held in a number of regions.

Congratulations on the Day of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Communications Service

On the Day of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Communications Service, it is customary to congratulate current employees, veterans and technical specialists who ensure the smooth operation of the department's infrastructure. Izvestia has prepared several examples of how this can be done.:

"Congratulations on the Day of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Communications Service! Your work is an invisible but important channel that unites the efforts of all departments. May there always be a clear signal in it, and confidence, warmth and stability in life!"

"Congratulations on your professional holiday! You are the ones who are always in touch, even when everything is silent. Thanks to your clear and unobtrusive work, the Ministry of Internal Affairs remains a single, well-coordinated body. We wish you new heights, reliable technology and personal well-being!"

"Happy holidays! The communications service is the artery of the Interior Ministry. We wish your work to be appreciated, and your life to be filled with bright moments, the warmth of loved ones, new technologies and the support of colleagues. May every connection be stable, every project be successful, and every day be full of achievements!"

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"Congratulations on your professional holiday! Let reliable threads bind you not only in work, but also in friendship, family, and love. Happy Communication Service Day! Thank you for your inconspicuous but invaluable work."

"Communications officers are the brains and nerves of the Interior Ministry. Congratulations on your professional holiday! May every signal be received, every message be heard, and every day bring confidence in the future."

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history and traditions of the International Civil Aviation Day.