"The threats that exist in the world today - [the oil spill in] the Gulf of Mexico, the Fukushima [nuclear disaster] - all these demand the setting up of ecological barriers on the borders of our country," Shoigu said at a news conference on the results of a expedition that monitored the levels of nuclear contamination in the water in an area stretching from the Kuril Islands to the Kamchatka Peninsula.

The emergencies minister proposed that special facilities be created to monitor levels of pollution in rivers that run into Russian territory from neighboring countries, and to monitor air pollution.

"We should have instruments to intercept [ecological] threats, warn people about them in a timely fashion and, if necessary, take measures to protect the residents of our country," Shoigu said, adding that the creation of such a shield would be very expensive.

Many issues concerning the creation of the ecological shield have already been agreed with the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, the Natural Resources Ministry and the state nuclear agency Rosatom.