Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a decree allowing the state to temporarily take control of critical infrastructure facilities if private owners fail to protect them from Ukrainian drone attacks or rebuild them after strikes.
The decision comes as Russia faces growing economic pressure and public frustration following months of Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries, warehouses, and other strategic facilities that have disrupted operations across the country.
Decree Expands State Oversight of Critical Assets
The decree applies to multiple sectors, including energy, industrial facilities, communications, transportation, and logistics infrastructure. The Kremlin said the measure is intended to address security concerns rather than transfer ownership of private companies to the state.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said some business owners have not invested enough in protecting their facilities against drone attacks, adding that the government must take measures to safeguard important economic infrastructure.
Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov emphasized that the decree does not represent nationalization or a broad change in ownership. Instead, it allows the state to participate in company management when necessary to resolve specific security issues.
Analysts Say Measure Targets Damaged Oil Facilities
Analysts believe the move may be aimed at pressuring companies to invest more heavily in repairs and defensive measures, particularly after repeated attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Political analyst Abbas Gallyamov said companies may be reluctant to spend billions restoring damaged facilities if they believe they could be attacked again. He described the measure as a warning that the government could take control of assets if businesses do not fund restoration efforts.
Chris Weafer, CEO of Macro-Advisory Ltd., said the Kremlin wants companies to take greater responsibility for protecting their own infrastructure rather than relying entirely on government resources.
According to Weafer, the government is attempting to avoid additional financial pressure from repairing damaged businesses or expanding security spending while encouraging private companies to invest in protection measures themselves.
Ukraine Continues Attacks on Russian Refineries
Ukraine’s military said it carried out new strikes against Russian energy facilities, including the Afipsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region and the Novoshakhtinsk refinery in the Rostov region.
The Afipsky refinery has reportedly been targeted multiple times over the past year, while the Novoshakhtinsk facility has also faced repeated drone attacks that have disrupted operations.
Russian businesses are already dealing with rising costs linked to the ongoing war, including higher taxes and increased domestic borrowing as the government attempts to manage budget pressures.
Russia Expands Support for Businesses Affected by Attacks
Alongside the new decree, Russia has also taken steps to support businesses affected by Ukrainian strikes. The Finance Ministry proposed extending tax and insurance payment deadlines for Wildberries, one of the country’s largest online retailers, and companies that sell through its platform after warehouse attacks caused disruption.
Putin said Russia must continue improving its air defense systems and strengthen coordination between defense agencies, law enforcement, government institutions, and private companies.
The move follows earlier legislation allowing major financial institutions, including state-controlled Sberbank, to install air defense systems to protect their facilities from drone attacks.
