Russia Passes Law Allowing Banks to Defend Key Sites with Weapons

Russia has passed a new law that allows the central bank and major lenders to help protect key infrastructure from drone attacks. The move comes as Ukraine continues long-range drone strikes inside Russian territory during the ongoing war. The law permits armed personnel and anti-drone systems near sensitive sites and brings banks, including Sberbank, into formal security planning.

Under the framework, banks must fund their own protection measures, including equipment and staffing costs. However, the state will coordinate the overall security structure, aiming to reduce pressure on military and federal security units while widening civilian involvement in infrastructure defence. The policy reflects a shift toward a shared security model between state and financial institutions.

The decision also expands banking responsibilities beyond finance into operational security support, including logistics, training, and procurement. However, it creates new coordination challenges between private institutions and government agencies. In addition, the move highlights a broader decentralisation of Russia’s defence approach, as drone warfare continues to reshape both military planning and civilian sector roles.

Ukrainian Drone Strikes Force Russia to Rework Air Defence Strategy

Ukraine’s ongoing drone campaign has increased pressure on Russia’s air defence system. The strikes have targeted widely spread infrastructure across multiple regions, exposing gaps in coverage and slower response times. As a result, Russian authorities are reassessing how they distribute protection across such a large territory.

In response, Russia is prioritising mobile air defence units and faster interception systems. However, the scale of the country remains a major challenge for effective coverage. In addition, resource allocation has become a key issue as defence systems must be spread across distant and high-value targets.The government is also shifting toward a more integrated security model. It is linking civilian infrastructure protection with broader national defence planning instead of relying only on military assets. In addition, officials aim to improve coordination between different security layers as drone warfare continues to evolve.

Web Resources on Russia Tells Banks to Shoot Down Drones

1. Guardian.com : Ukraine war briefing: Shoot down drones yourself, Russia tells its banks
2. Reuters.com : Russia allows central bank, top lender Sberbank to down drones