Putin Decrees State Authority Over Critical Infrastructure Amid Drone Threats

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a decree allowing the state to temporarily assume control of critical infrastructure facilities if private owners fail to protect them from Ukrainian drone attacks or rebuild them after strikes.

The decree, announced Monday, comes amid escalating economic pressure and public frustration in Russia, following months of Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries and commercial hubs that have caused widespread disruption.

Ukraine itself is facing relentless aerial assaults that have damaged its power grid ahead of winter and heavily impacted residential areas, as Russia’s invasion enters its fifth year.

The Kremlin’s specific intentions regarding the decree remain unclear, but it applies across multiple sectors, including energy infrastructure, as well as industrial, communications, transportation and logistics facilities.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated Tuesday that business owners often do not prioritize sufficient safety measures, particularly anti-drone protections.

Given the threat to vital economic infrastructure, he emphasized, “We must take measures to ensure our own safety.”

Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov clarified that the decree does not constitute nationalization or a change of ownership; rather, it involves state participation in enterprise management to address specific security issues.

He added that the measure does not imply widespread use, and that targeted, carefully considered decisions will be made at the highest level.

Russian political analyst Abbas Gallyamov, a former Putin speechwriter, described the move as a potentially “tactical” step aimed at forcing owners of repeatedly damaged oil refineries to undertake repairs.

Given that the same refinery has been hit three to five times, it is reasonable to assume owners are now reluctant to invest in restoration.

“Why spend billions if they’re going to get hit again tomorrow?” Gallyamov asked on Telegram.

He said the government is issuing an ultimatum: “If you don’t finance the restoration of the refineries, we’ll take them away from you.”

In the latest strikes, Ukraine’s General Staff reported that its forces overnight targeted facilities at Russia’s Afipsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region, causing a fire. Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev confirmed a fire broke out at the Afipsky refinery.

A separate Ukrainian attack also damaged the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in southern Russia’s Rostov region overnight, halting operations, according to Rostov Governor Yuri Slyusar, who did not elaborate further.

Russian businesses continue to face fundamental economic challenges as the costly war persists. The government has raised taxes and increased domestic borrowing to maintain budget deficit control, and taking over major companies could potentially generate revenue.

However, seizing damaged assets may also impose additional financial burdens. The Kremlin may intend the measure as leverage to pressure companies into assuming greater responsibility for air defense, given Russia’s vast territory is difficult to fully protect.

Russia is also providing additional support to its largest online retailer, Wildberries, and businesses selling through the platform. The company and thousands of its sellers have been severely impacted by repeated Ukrainian strikes on warehouses. The Finance Ministry proposed Monday extending tax and insurance payment deadlines to provide Wildberries and its sellers with financial relief.

On Saturday, Putin told state television that Russia “must and will improve the air defense system and enhance its capabilities.”

He emphasized the need to streamline coordination between defense, law enforcement and civilian agencies at all levels, and to leverage the capabilities of state-run enterprises and private businesses.

In May, following deep strikes that unsettled Moscow, Russian lawmakers approved a bill allowing the Central Bank, state-controlled Sberbank and other financial services to install air defenses on their premises to fend off drone attacks.

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