Putin signs decree allowing state seizure of poorly protected infrastructure

August 24, 2026 at 09:59 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday allowing the Russian state to take temporary control of critical infrastructure deemed inadequately protected from attack. The measure permits Moscow to strip owners of physical and financial control over facilities that fail to secure or repair them quickly. The decree comes as Ukraine maintains an intense drone campaign against Russian infrastructure.

Key Facts

The decree, published on Monday, allows Moscow to strip owners of physical and financial control over facilities if they fail to secure them or repair damage quickly.
Fuel and energy facilities, including nuclear power, are covered by the legislation, as well as industry, communications, transport and logistics, public utilities and other facilities deemed essential to state security and economic stability.
Russia was forced to halt operations at the Perm oil refinery on Monday after an attack last week damaged key processing units, with repairs expected to take up to two weeks.
Ozon, Russia's second largest online retailer, said on Monday that four of its logistics hubs in southern Russia had been hit.

Decree Provisions

Under the decree, ownership powers would transfer to Russia's Federal Agency for State Property Management or another designated body, which would take responsibility for the site's safety and could conduct an inventory of its assets. Fuel and energy facilities, including nuclear power, are included under the legislation as well as industry, communications, transport and logistics, public utilities and other facilities deemed essential to state security and economic stability. The decree was published on Monday and would allow Moscow to strip owners of physical and financial control over facilities should it be determined that they are failing to secure them or repair damage quickly.

Ukrainian Drone Campaign

Kyiv has found significant success in long-range drone attacks, with its targeting of Russia's energy infrastructure producing fuel shortages across the country. Kyiv has also struck at least two dozen warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, destroying a significant share of its storage capacity and causing billions of dollars of damage to companies across the nation. Ozon, Russia's second largest online retailer, said on Monday that four of its logistics hubs in southern Russia had been hit. The same day, Russia was also forced to halt operations at the Perm oil refinery, industry sources told the Reuters news agency.