Russian Parliament Allows Banks to Defend Against Drone Attacks

The Russian parliament approved legislation granting the country’s central bank and other financial institutions the authority to counter drone attacks using their own defensive systems, as Moscow intensifies efforts to respond to increasingly frequent Ukrainian drone operations, according to reports by CNBC.

The law, passed by the lower house of parliament on Tuesday, authorizes employees of the Central Bank of Russia to carry weapons and operate systems designed to disable or destroy unmanned aerial vehicles without requiring intervention from special forces units.

The move comes as Ukraine continues to expand its use of long-range drones, placing growing pressure on Russia’s ability to defend its vast airspace and critical infrastructure.

According to Russia’s RBC news agency, the legislation also extends defensive authority to several major institutions, including Sberbank, the country’s largest lender, as well as the Russian Cash Collection Association, a leading cash transportation operator, and Russian Post, which handles the delivery of highly sensitive government correspondence.

The report said the law empowers authorized personnel to “neutralize unmanned aerial vehicles, vessels, underwater and surface devices, unmanned transport systems, and other automated unmanned systems.”

Under the legislation, force may be used to repel attacks on protected facilities or respond to threats targeting employees and individuals present at secured locations.

The approved measures include disrupting or redirecting drone control signals, interfering with navigation systems, or physically disabling and destroying unmanned devices.

Both Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly denied deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure since the war began in February 2022. However, critical infrastructure and strategic facilities in both countries have faced repeated drone strikes and cyberattacks throughout the conflict.