Russia Authorizes Central Bank and Sberbank to Shoot Down Drones

Russia has approved a law allowing its central bank and several major financial institutions to organize their own defenses against drone attacks as Ukrainian strikes increasingly reach deeper into Russian territory. The legislation, passed by the State Duma on Tuesday, gives employees at the central bank and certain other institutions the authority to help counter unmanned aerial vehicle threats without waiting for special forces to respond.

According to Russian media outlet RBC, the new rules apply not only to the central bank but also to Sberbank, the Russian Cash Collection Association, and the Special Postal Service, which handles classified state correspondence. Staff at these institutions may be allowed to oversee anti-drone operations and use protective systems around key facilities. The law also covers threats from underwater and surface unmanned vessels, as well as other automated unmanned systems.

The measures are intended to protect facilities from attacks or from threats against employees and other people on site. The approved defenses may include jamming drone signals, interfering with control systems, and disabling or destroying the aircraft. One of the lawmakers behind the bill, Anatoly Aksakov, said the systems would be installed near important locations and funded by the institutions themselves. He said that if the central bank needs such protection, the central bank will pay for it; if Sberbank needs it, Sberbank will cover the cost.

The move comes as both Russia and Ukraine continue to accuse each other of targeting critical infrastructure while denying intentional attacks on civilians. Since the war began in February 2022, the conflict has increasingly included drone warfare, cyberattacks, and strikes on strategic facilities. Ukraine has stepped up long-range drone operations, putting pressure on Russia’s ability to defend a huge geographic area.

The legislation reflects Moscow’s effort to adapt to that changing battlefield. By allowing financial and other sensitive institutions to mount their own anti-drone defenses, Russian authorities appear to be decentralizing some of the country’s air-defense responsibilities and giving protected sites more autonomy in responding to aerial threats.

The development also comes amid broader geopolitical strain, with diplomatic efforts to restart peace talks appearing stalled. Russian officials said on Tuesday that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had warned U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Moscow planned new strikes on Ukraine, including attacks focused on drone-related facilities and what it described as decision-making centers. Russia also claimed it had advised Washington to urge American citizens and diplomats to leave Kyiv ahead of the expected strikes.

The report suggests that the war is entering a more intense phase, with drones playing an increasingly central role in both offensive operations and defensive planning. For Russia, the new law marks a significant shift in how key civilian and financial institutions may be expected to protect themselves from the expanding threat of unmanned attacks.