Russia permits banks to arm staff for drone defense

Russia has passed legislation authorizing its central bank and other financial institutions to operate defense systems and arm personnel to counter drone attacks. The law, published by the lower house of parliament on Tuesday, expands the authority for such measures beyond traditional security services.

The move comes amid regular drone strikes on Russian territory following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Ukrainian forces have frequently targeted energy infrastructure, aiming to disrupt Russian revenues. The new law explicitly permits drone defense systems to be located at the central bank, the country's largest bank Sberbank, and the Russian Cash Collection Association. Staff at these institutions would be allowed to carry weapons.

Anatoly Aksakov, the head of the financial committee in the State Duma, stated that the institutions themselves will bear the cost of implementing these defense measures. The policy reflects a broader shift in security thinking, treating drone threats as an operational risk requiring management across critical economic sectors, not solely as an air-defense problem.

On Tuesday, Alexander Shokhin, head of Russia's most...