Yulia Shoigu

Shoigu was born in 1977[3] in the city of Krasnoyarsk into the family of Sergei Shoigu, who was studying at the Krasnoyarsk Polytechnic Institute with a major in civil engineering at the time. Due to the nature of the work of her father, the family often changed residence. Yulia graduated from a secondary school in Moscow in 1994, and was admitted to the Faculty of Psychology of Moscow State University.[4] In 1999, after graduating from university she came to work in the Center for Emergency and Psychological Aid of the EMERCOM and started to work as a psychologist. In 2001, Shoigu was appointed Deputy Director, and a year later the director of the Center.[5] At various times, Shoigu participated in the provision of psychological assistance to the victims of the terrorist attacks, hostage-taking, after man-made disasters in Moscow, 1995 Neftegorsk earthquake, S7 Airlines Flight 778, Kursk submarine disaster and other emergency situations in Russia and abroad.[6] She gained her PhD as the author of scientific works on the psychology of extreme situations;[7] her PhD thesis was named "Professional psychological selection of cadets of universities of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia - future rescuers" and defended in 2003.

Yulia Shoigu is married to the Deputy Prosecutor General of Russia Alexey Zakharov,[8] and has two children, a daughter named Daria, and a son named Kirill.

She has been awarded with various state and departmental awards:[9][10]

• Medal of the Order For Merit to the Fatherland 1st class
• Medal of the Order For Merit to the Fatherland 2nd class