MOSCOW, Aug 25: Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing the government to temporarily take control of critical infrastructure if private owners fail to protect facilities from Ukrainian drone attacks or restore them after strikes.
The measure covers key sectors including energy, fuel, industry, communications, transport and logistics.
Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said the decree does not amount to nationalisation or a change in ownership, but allows the State to intervene in managing enterprises to address specific security concerns.
The move comes amid increasingly frequent Ukrainian drone strikes deep inside Russia, targeting oil refineries and other vital infrastructure and adding to the country's economic pressures.
Russian officials said the mechanism would be used selectively, while analysts suggested it could pressure owners of repeatedly targeted facilities to finance repairs and strengthen security.
Ukraine's General Staff said its forces recently struck the Afipsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region, where local authorities reported a fire.
Putin has also called for stronger air defence and closer coordination between defence, law enforcement and civilian agencies in response to the attacks.
