Russia grants central bank authority to shoot down drones

Russia has passed a law allowing its central bank and other financial institutions to operate defensive systems and arm staff to repel drone attacks without requiring special forces involvement. The legislation represents a significant shift in how critical financial infrastructure is protected amid the ongoing conflict.

Russia has enacted new legislation granting the country's central bank and other financial institutions the authority to deploy defensive systems and arm their personnel to counter drone attacks, Reuters reports. Crucially, the law permits these institutions to act independently, without the involvement of special military or security units.

The move reflects growing concern in Moscow over the vulnerability of critical civilian and financial infrastructure to drone strikes. By authorizing financial institutions to handle their own air defense, Russia is effectively extending paramilitary capabilities to non-military state bodies.

The legislation marks a notable escalation in how Russia is preparing its domestic institutions for continued conflict conditions. Allowing central bank staff to be armed and to operate anti-drone systems blurs the line between civilian financial institutions and active defense participants — a step with potentially far-reaching implications for how such organizations operate internationally.