Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a presidential decree authorizing the state to take temporary control of private critical infrastructure deemed vulnerable to Ukrainian drone attacks. The order, reported on Tuesday, targets facilities that fail to implement sufficient protections or are slow to repair damage following aerial strikes. Russian officials stated the measure is intended to secure national stability as Ukraine expands its drone campaign against logistics and energy sites.
The decree follows a series of strikes on Russian retail hubs, specifically those belonging to online retailers Wildberries and Ozon. Ukraine has accused these companies of providing support to the Russian armed forces, while Ozon reported that four of its logistics hubs were targeted by drones in southern Russia over a three-day period. Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said the measure is not a precursor to nationalization and will not be applied on a broad scale.
The new state powers cover a wide range of sectors, including fuel, energy, industrial, communications, transport, and logistics facilities. Under the decree, the state can seize physical and financial assets as well as formal ownership rights. The announcement coincided with reports of a drone strike on the Afipsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region, which Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said resulted in a fire and two deaths.
The scale of the military conflict continues to expand, involving both international personnel and technology. Ukrainian intelligence reports that 8,500 North Korean troops, including a 400-person drone unit, have been deployed to help Russia. On the opposing side, the United Kingdom and France have pledged to share classified technology with Ukraine to allow for the local production of SCALP and Storm Shadow long-range missiles. These developments indicate a shift toward more technical and localized manufacturing of advanced weaponry, which may alter the frequency and range of aerial attacks on infrastructure in the coming months.
The policy sets a precedent for the Russian government to override private property rights during the conflict. By linking ownership to defensive capabilities, the state places the financial and physical burden of drone defense on private corporations. What happens next depends on the implementation of these "special powers" by the Russian administration. In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Andy Burnham indicated plans to travel to the United States in September to discuss Ukraine's needs with President Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly, while Russia has not yet appointed a new ambassador to the UK following the withdrawal of Andrey Kelin in July.