Russia to seize poorly protected infrastructure as Ukraine barrage persists

by | Aug 24, 2026 | World

Russia to seize poorly protected infrastructure as Ukraine barrage persists

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a decree enabling the state to assume temporary control over critical infrastructure lacking adequate protection measures. The legislation permits Moscow to strip facility owners of their operational and financial authority should authorities determine that protective measures are insufficient or repairs from damage are proceeding too slowly. Management of seized sites would transfer to Russia’s Federal Agency for State Property Management or another state-designated entity, which would assume responsibility for security operations and conduct asset inventories.

The decree encompasses a broad range of facilities considered vital to national security and economic stability, including fuel and energy infrastructure, nuclear power plants, industrial operations, communications networks, transport and logistics systems, and public utilities. The measure follows sustained Ukrainian drone operations targeting Russian infrastructure with increasing effectiveness.

Ukraine has conducted an extensive campaign of long-range drone strikes focused particularly on Russia’s energy sector, resulting in widespread fuel shortages and economic impacts. The country’s forces have also targeted commercial warehouses, destroying storage facilities belonging to major retailers and causing substantial financial damage. Recent strikes have impacted both Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, and Ozon, the second-largest, with the latter reporting damage to four logistics hubs in southern Russia.

Industry sources reported that Russia halted operations at the Perm oil refinery after Ukrainian drone attacks damaged key processing units. The facility, a major petrochemical processing center, had been struck repeatedly in recent months, with repairs expected to require up to two weeks and contributing to fuel shortages across multiple regions. The escalation in infrastructure targeting reflects the conflict’s evolution toward drone and missile warfare following the initial 2022 invasion and the subsequent stalemate along eastern Ukraine’s front lines.

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