Abstract. The article provides a review of the participation of Russian military medics in various humanitarian operations from the second half of XIX to the first half of XX centuries. It reveals humanitarian nature of military-medical profession and the role of military medicine in practical realization of norms of international humanitarian law. The article analyses efforts made by military-medical personnel to relieve consequences of different types of disaster both in Russia and abroad and provides detail on specific humanitarian operations. It highlights the key achievements of Russian military medicine in humanitarian domain and explores venues for further international humanitarian cooperation among military medics.