Russia's State Duma has passed a law allowing its central bank and other financial institutions to operate defense systems and arm staff to counter Ukrainian drone attacks. This legislation aims to integrate banks into Russia's air defenses using jamming systems and trained employees, allowing these entities to operate without the involvement of special forces.
Defense systems will be located next to the central bank, the Russian Cash Collection Association, and Sberbank, the country's largest bank. Under the new law, staff at these institutions are permitted to be armed to ward off attacks.
The financial institutions will handle the costs of their own drone defenses, according to Anatoly Aksakov, head of the State Duma's financial committee. Additionally, Alexander Shokhin, head of Russia's most powerful business lobby, informed President Vladimir Putin that companies are prepared to finance the purchase of electronic systems and heavier weapons to protect their infrastructure.
These measures come as Ukraine regularly strikes Russia with drones following Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Energy infrastructure has been frequently targeted as Kyiv aims to deprive Moscow of revenues to bring the war to its end.