Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing the government to temporarily seize control of critical infrastructure facilities if private owners fail to protect them from Ukrainian drone strikes or fail to rebuild after attacks.
The decree, announced Monday and confirmed by the Kremlin on Tuesday, gives Russia authority to take over energy, industrial, communications, transportation and logistics sites when owners do not meet security standards against drone threats. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the measure was needed because “often business owners do not pay enough attention to taking measures to ensure safety, anti-drone safety.”
Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov moved to calm fears of mass nationalization, saying the decree “does not imply the nationalization of companies or a change of ownership” but rather “involvement of the state in the management of an enterprise to solve specific security problems.” He added that it “does not imply widespread use” and that decisions would be made “at the highest level” on a targeted basis.
Ukrainian Strikes Expose Russian Vulnerabilities
The move comes amid months of escalating Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and e-commerce hubs that have caused nationwide fuel disruptions. In the latest overnight strikes, Ukraine General Staff said its forces hit Russia Afipsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region, causing a fire. It was the eighth time Ukrainian drones have targeted the facility in the past year. A separate attack also damaged the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in the Rostov region, halting operations.
Russian political analyst Abbas Gallyamov told the Telegram messaging app the measure may be a “tactical” step designed to force owners of repeatedly damaged refineries into making repairs. “Given the fact that the same refinery has already been hit three to five times, it is safe to assume that the owners are now reluctant to invest in restoring what has been destroyed,” he said.
Wildberries Relief and War Economy Strain
Russia is also offering more help for Wildberries, its largest online retailer, and businesses selling goods through it. The company and thousands of sellers have been hit hard by repeated Ukrainian strikes on warehouses. The Finance Ministry proposed extending deadlines for tax and insurance payments to give Wildberries sellers some financial breathing space.
Russian businesses face fundamental economic challenges as the costly war drags into its fifth year. The government has raised taxes and increased domestic borrowing to keep its budget deficit under control. On Saturday, Putin told state television that Russia “must and will improve the air defense system and enhance its capabilities” and called for better coordination between defense, law enforcement and civilian agencies. In May, Russian lawmakers approved a bill allowing the Central Bank and Sberbank to install air defenses on their premises.
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