Russian Lawmakers Propose Banks Assist In Countering Ukrainian Drone Threats

Russia’s lower house of parliament has approved a controversial proposal that would draw commercial banks—and potentially their employees—into the country’s air defence response against Ukrainian drone attacks, marking an unusual expansion of civilian-sector involvement in the war. The draft legislation, passed in its third and final reading in the State Duma, outlines a framework under which banks would be required to fund and install electronic countermeasure systems on their premises. Selected staff could also be authorised to take active steps to disable or destroy incoming drones targeting financial institutions.

The measure still requires approval from the Federation Council, Russia’s upper house, and must be signed by President Vladimir Putin before becoming law. According to officials cited in Russian state media, the initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen protection against increasingly frequent and technically sophisticated Ukrainian drone strikes, which have targeted infrastructure deep inside Russian territory. Analysts say the growing range and precision of these drones has made it difficult for traditional air defence systems to fully cover Russia’s vast geography.

The legislation envisions banks—ranging from private lenders to major state-backed institutions such as Sberbank and the Central Bank—playing a role in distributed defence coverage. Because bank branches are widespread across cities and towns, lawmakers argue they could serve as additional nodes in a broader detection and disruption network. However, the proposal has raised significant questions about feasibility and safety. The bill provides limited operational detail, leaving unclear how employees would be trained, what authority they would have in real-time threat scenarios, and how coordination with military or security services would function during an actual drone attack.

Also Read: Russian Fighters Allegedly Trained In China Rejoin Ukraine War: Reports

Under the framework described by lawmakers, authorised personnel could use electronic jamming tools to disrupt drone navigation or communication systems. In some cases, they may also be permitted to physically disable drones threatening bank facilities, even without waiting for formal security-service response. Anatoly Aksakov, chair of the State Duma Committee on Financial Markets, said the approach is intended to improve responsiveness. He stated that jamming systems would make it harder for drones to locate targets, while additional defensive tools could be used to neutralise threats more directly.

The plan reflects a broader trend in Russia of involving civilian infrastructure and private organisations in national defence measures as drone attacks have expanded in scope. However, critics note that delegating quasi-military functions to financial institutions could blur lines between civilian and combat roles, potentially increasing risks for employees and public spaces. If enacted, the law would require each institution to determine which staff members are authorised to operate counter-drone measures, effectively decentralising elements of tactical air defence to the private sector.

Also Read: Trump Says He Ended Nine Wars, Targets Russia-Ukraine As Tenth Peace Deal