Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree that paves the way for the state to temporarily assume control over critical infrastructure deemed insufficiently protected against attacks. The decree, published on Monday, permits Moscow to strip owners of physical and financial control if they are found to be failing in security measures or timely repair of damage.
The move comes as Ukraine maintains a dense drone campaign against Russian infrastructure. Under the decree, ownership is transferred to the Federal Agency for State Property Management or another designated authority, which will be responsible for facility safety and may conduct property inventories.
The scope covers energy facilities, including nuclear power, as well as industrial, communications, transport, logistics, public utilities, and other installations considered vital for national security and economic stability.
Russia launched its full-scale military operation against Ukraine in February 2022, but as the frontline in eastern Ukraine became bogged down, the conflict increasingly focused on drone and missile attacks.
Kyiv has achieved notable successes with long-range drone strikes. Targeting Russia's energy infrastructure has been particularly effective, causing widespread fuel shortages and impacting public opinion and an economy already under nearly five years of international sanctions.
Additionally, Ukraine has struck at least two dozen warehouses of Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, destroying a significant portion of storage capacity and causing billions of dollars in losses for companies nationwide. On Monday, Ozon, Russia's second-largest online retailer, said four of its logistics centers in southern Russia had been hit.
On the same day, Russia was also forced to halt operations at the Perm oil refinery, industry sources told Reuters. The major processing facility has been repeatedly attacked by Ukrainian drones in recent months. A strike last week damaged key processing units. Repairs are expected to take up to two weeks, exacerbating fuel shortages already observed in many regions.
