Putin signs decree for state control of vulnerable infrastructure

President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing the Russian state to assume temporary control of critical infrastructure facilities deemed inadequately protected from Ukrainian attacks, in a move that expands government authority over the economy amid the ongoing war. The decree, signed on August 24, 2026, provides a legal mechanism for the state to take over the physical assets, financial holdings, and management of facilities in sectors including fuel, energy, industry, communications, transport, and logistics.

The action follows weeks of intensified Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian energy and commercial infrastructure. Since mid-July, Ukrainian forces have attacked at least 20 warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, significantly damaging its storage capacity. On August 24, Russia’s second-largest online retailer, Ozon, reported that four of its logistics hubs in southern Russia had been hit. Ukrainian strikes have also repeatedly targeted oil refineries, forcing temporary suspensions at major facilities like the Perm refinery.

Under the new decree, state intervention can be triggered if an operator fails to provide adequate...