OREANDA-NEWS  More than 20 volunteer formations participating in the operation in Ukraine have signed contracts with the Russian military department, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported.

"As part of the implementation of the order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation on determining the procedure for organizing the official activities of volunteer organizations, more than 20 formations of the volunteer corps have signed contracts with the Russian military department," the Russian Defense Ministry said.

They noted that these contracts determine the legal status of volunteers in the zone of military operations in Ukraine, and also provide volunteers and their family members with state-established measures of social protection and support.

The commanders of four more volunteer units located in the combat zone signed contracts with the representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseev, the ministry said.

Earlier it was reported that in order to increase the effectiveness of the use of volunteer formations as part of the Russian grouping, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu signed an order defining the procedure for organizing the official activities of volunteer organizations.