Putin Signs Decree Allowing State Takeover of Poorly Protected Critical Infrastructure

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing the state to assume temporary management of critical infrastructure facilities if their owners fail to ensure adequate security. The order applies to sectors including energy, industry, communications, transport, logistics, and nuclear facilities. Specifically, the state may intervene if there are security violations, delays in implementing protective measures, or ineffective defenses against drone attacks. It also applies to facilities that have not been restored in a timely manner after being damaged.

Under the decree, the Federal Agency for State Property Management, known as Rosimushchestvo, will typically serve as the temporary administrator. The state may take control of buildings, property, securities, and company shares. Expenses for this management are expected to be covered by the income generated from the assets. The decree does not specify a fixed duration for this temporary management, and the return of assets to owners will be decided by the government.

The measure is linked to the law on martial law and is justified by increased security threats during the conflict in Ukraine. This follows a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries and logistics warehouses. While center and center-left sources focus on the legal mechanisms and the specific types of infrastructure affected, a center-right source notes that Putin has previously described the impact of these attacks as not having critical consequences despite calling the campaign detrimental.