Putin allows Russia to take control of infrastructure deemed vulnerable to drone attacks

MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin granted Russian authorities the authority to assume control over vital infrastructure in circumstances where it is considered insufficiently safeguarded against Ukrainian drone assaults and other hazards, according to a presidential decree issued on Monday. The decree, which targets oil refineries and retail warehouses, allows the state to take over both tangible and financial assets, as well as formal ownership rights, if the entities responsible for safeguarding these facilities are deemed to have fallen short of their protective duties and are too slow to restore them following any attack, according to the decree.

The decree covers fuel, energy, industrial, communication, transport and logistics facilities, as well as other structures deemed crucial for ensuring the security and economic stability of the state and its citizens.

First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov emphasized that the measure should not be perceived as a precursor to nationalization and would not be utilized on a large scale. The decree does not entail nationalization or a change in ownership. Instead, it grants the state the authority to participate in managing an enterprise to address specific security concerns, as quoted by Interfax.

In recent weeks, President Putin ordered the government to launch a program to rebuild commercial warehouses that have been damaged or destroyed by Ukraine. Kyiv has targeted at least two dozen warehouses belonging to Russia's leading online retailer, Wildberries, since July 18, causing significant damage to its storage capacity.

On Monday, Russia's second-largest online retailer, Ozon, reported that four of its logistics hubs in southern Russia had been targeted in Ukrainian attacks.