Russia allows central bank and financial institutions to arm staff against drone attacks

Moscow, Russia. Russia has passed a law allowing its central bank and other financial institutions to operate their own defence systems and arm staff to repel drone attacks, according to a document published by the lower house of parliament. Ukraine struck the central bank’s office in Sevastopol in Crimea on Wednesday, local governor Mikhail Razvozhaev said.

Drone defence systems

The law allows drone defence systems to be placed next to the central bank, Sberbank and the Russian Cash Collection Association. Staff at those institutions would be permitted to carry weapons.

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Funding and comments

The institutions would cover the cost of the drone defence systems themselves, Anatoly Aksakov, head of the financial committee in the State Duma, was quoted by RBC as saying.

Context of attacks

Ukraine has regularly struck Russia with drones since Moscow launched its war in February 2022, with energy infrastructure frequently targeted as Kyiv seeks to cut off revenues and bring the conflict to an end. The attack on the central bank’s office in Sevastopol was the first on a major central bank office since the start of the war, and there were no reported attacks on major Sberbank offices.

Business sector response

On Tuesday, Alexander Shokhin, head of Russia’s most powerful business lobby, told President Vladimir Putin that companies are ready to finance the purchase of heavier weapons and electronic systems to protect their infrastructure from drone attacks.