Russia’s infrastructure is being pummeled by Ukrainian strikes. Now Putin wants to seize control of it
By Billy Stockwell and Darya Tarasova, CNN
(CNN) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree giving the government powers to temporarily take control of “critical infrastructure” across the country, if private owners fail to protect it from escalating Ukrainian attacks.
The new measure comes as Moscow and Kyiv ramp up their air campaigns, with Ukrainian strikes deep into Russian territory sparking fuel shortages and bringing the war closer to home for ordinary Russians.
Kyiv has stepped up attacks in recent days on Ozon logistics hubs in Russia – a competitor to the frequently targeted e-commerce giant Wildberries – as it seeks to undermine Moscow’s war-driven economy. The decree, which came into force on Monday, says the new measures are being introduced “in connection with the growing threats to the security of critical infrastructure facilities of the Russian Federation.”
It covers a raft of sectors, according to the decree, including fuel and energy infrastructure, communications, transport and logistics facilities, among others.
If owners do not take sufficient steps to ensure the “security” of such facilities or restore their functioning quickly enough after attacks, the government can decide to implement “temporary administration,” the decree states. This effectively hands the Russian state control of the owner’s property, property rights and shares.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday said, “quite often the owners of enterprises do not pay proper attention to taking measures to ensure security, anti-drone security.”
He also nodded to the support of Western nations for Kyiv as another reason why Moscow “must take measures” to, as he put it, “ensure our own security.”
Asked which companies could fall under the remit of the degree, Peskov told reporters the situation would be “analyzed primarily by the government, by the relevant agencies.”
“Wherever security measures are not being taken in critical areas, corresponding proposals will be submitted,” he added.
Meanwhile, Russia has increasingly been launching high-speed missile attacks across Ukraine, exploiting Kyiv’s shortage of US-made Patriot air defense interceptors, which the country heavily relies upon to shoot down ballistic missiles. It’s a shortage that has been made worse due to a global supply crunch amid the Iran war.
Russia launched two missiles and 150 drones at Ukraine overnight into Tuesday, with 124 drones shot down, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
Amid the interceptor shortage, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv had received a “small number of Patriot missiles,” Ukrainian state media outlet Ukrinform reported Tuesday.
“I won’t say which country provided them either – we’ve also received a small number of Patriot missiles. I can’t say how many, but just a few. We need more,” Zelensky said in a meeting with his Estonian counterpart, Ukrinform said.
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CNN’s Daria Tarasova-Markina contributed reporting.
