Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing the government to temporarily take control of critical infrastructure if private owners fail to protect it from Ukrainian drone attacks or rebuild it after strikes. The move comes amid escalating Ukrainian drone strikes targeting oil facilities and commercial hubs.
The decree signifies a potential shift in how Russia manages critical infrastructure under wartime conditions, directly linking ownership responsibility to security and repair obligations in the face of persistent Ukrainian attacks.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree that permits the government to temporarily assume control of critical infrastructure if private owners fail to protect it from Ukrainian drone attacks or to rebuild it following such strikes. This measure comes as Russia faces increasing economic and political pressure from escalating and more accurate Ukrainian drone attacks targeting vital oil facilities and commercial hubs.
Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov clarified that the decree does not signify nationalization or a change in ownership, but rather "involvement of the state in the management of an enterprise to solve specific security problems." Political analyst Abbas Gallyamov suggested the decree serves as an ultimatum to owners of repeatedly damaged oil refineries, pressuring them to finance repairs they might otherwise avoid due to the risk of further attacks.
In the latest incident, Ukraine's General Staff reported striking facilities at Russia's Afipsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region overnight, resulting in a fire. Russia is grappling with significant economic challenges as the conflict continues, with the government resorting to tax increases and domestic borrowing to manage the budget deficit. The takeover of damaged assets could also present a financial burden for authorities, though it might also be intended to pressure companies to enhance their own air defense measures.
Putin previously stated that Russia must and will improve its air defense system. In May, Russian lawmakers approved a bill allowing entities like the Central Bank and Sberbank to install air defenses on their premises.