Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing the state to seize control of privately owned businesses hit by drone strikes, covering facilities in energy, transport, logistics, and other critical sectors deemed important for national security. Under the edict, which took effect immediately, temporary state management can be imposed without a court decision, based on a presidential instruction alone, and can be used as a pretext to seize assets from companies under the guise of security failures. The decree has been described by experts as "hybrid nationalisation," with legal and business experts warning that it could be used in internal corporate disputes or as a tool for redistribution of assets. A representative of one of Russia's largest agribusiness holdings called the decree "a tool that will allow large assets to be taken away from business under the pretext of non-compliance with security measures."
Written by the local model on 2026-08-26,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing the state to seize control of businesses affected by Ukrainian drone strikes, which he claims are necessary for national security. The decree, which took effect immediately, applies to energy, transport, logistics, and other critical facilities deemed important for Russia's economic stability and population's livelihood. It allows the government to impose temporary state management without a court decision, based on a presidential instruction alone, which can be given orally. Legal experts have warned that this move could be used as a pretext to seize assets from Russian companies, calling it "hybrid nationalisation". The decree covers facilities in various sectors, including fuel and energy, industry, communications, utilities, transport, and logistics. This development has raised concerns about the potential for government overreach and asset seizure under the guise of national security.
Written for “Russia Sanctions Drones Business” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
The edict covers energy, transport, logistics and any facility deemed critical to national security, and can be imposed by presidential instruction alone.
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edict → cover → instruction
Experts called it "hybrid nationalisation," warning it would be used to seize assets from companies under the pretext of security failure.
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it → call → failure
Vladimir Putin has signed a decree that could place privately owned businesses under state management if the government judges they have failed to protect themselves against Ukrainian drone attacks — a move legal experts described on Wednesday as a potential tool for seizing assets from Russian companies under the pretext of security failures.
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experts → sign → failures
The edict, which took effect immediately, covers facilities in the fuel and energy sector, industry, communications, energy — including nuclear — utilities, transport and logistics, and any other facility deemed of "particular importance for the security, economic stability and the livelihood of the population of the Russian Federation."
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which → take → Federation
It allows temporary state management to be imposed without a court decision, based on a presidential instruction alone — which lawyers noted could be given orally.
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lawyers → allow → instruction
State management can now be triggered by a company's failure to adopt security measures against drone attacks, violations of security requirements, or steps judged ineffective.
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management → trigger → requirements
Crucially, the Russian president's decree does not define who decides whether the threshold has been met or on what criteria.
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threshold → define → criteria
A source within a major Russian energy company, speaking to Euronews on condition of anonymity, said they feared the decree would be used in internal corporate disputes — that employees could use it to denounce management during conflicts, with devastating consequences.
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employees → speak → consequences
Legal and business experts reacted sharply.
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experts → react → ?
Political analyst Abbas Gallyamov called it "hybrid nationalisation".
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Gallyamov → call → it
"After they have bombed you, the state will come to you and, accusing you of failing to protect yourself from the attack, will seize it from you," he said.
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he → bomb → you
Lawyer Andrei Grivtsov said the extremely broad definition of "critical infrastructure" left unanswered the fundamental question of who would assess compliance and on what basis.
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who → say → basis
A representative of one of Russia's largest agribusiness holdings, speaking anonymously to Forbes Russia, was more direct, calling the decree "a tool that will allow large assets to be taken away from business under the pretext of non-compliance with security measures."
Lawyer Sergei Uchitel warned against taking the word "temporary" at face value.
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Uchitel → speak → value
In practice, external management means a company loses control over its operations, cannot set its own strategy, and is eventually forced to sell "on terms that can hardly be described as voluntary," Uchitel said.
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Uchitel → mean → terms
Representatives of oil refineries and e-commerce platforms Wildberries and Ozon struck by Ukrainian drones have yet to comment on Putin's decision.
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Representatives → strike → decision
Drone strikes and fuel shortages
The decree was issued against the backdrop of an intensifying Ukrainian drone campaign against Russian economic infrastructure, as Moscow's all-out war against Ukraine continues well into its fifth year.
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war → issue → year
In the first six months of 2026, Ukrainian drones successfully struck Russian refineries at least 194 times — 11 times more often than in the same period of 2025, according to Financial Times calculations.
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drones → strike → calculations
Wildberries warehouses have been hit 21 times across 16 regions since mid-July, and since Saturday, Ukrainian drones have struck six Ozon logistics facilities in three days.
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drones → hit → days
Kyiv has recently stepped up strikes on Russian logistics and energy infrastructure in a bid to cut the source of funding for Moscow's war machine amid sustained Russian bombardment of Ukrainian cities and villages.
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Kyiv → step → cities
According to the UN, at least 437 civilians were killed in Ukraine in July, the highest monthly figure since May 2022, 30% higher than in June and 70% higher than in July 2025.
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civilians → accord → July
Kyiv has repeatedly warned Russian forces are deliberately continuing to target residential areas and civilian infrastructure.
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forces → warn → areas
Three days before signing the decree, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak instructed oil companies to revise their refinery maintenance schedules to avoid worsening existing fuel shortages.
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Novak → sign → shortages
Under the new decree, any delays in restoring damaged facilities could now have direct legal consequences for their owners.
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delays → restore → owners
First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov sought to reassure businesses on the day of publication, telling RBC that the decree "will be applied selectively; this is not about nationalisation."
He said decisions would be taken "at the very highest level" and that there was no mechanism for mass introduction of temporary management.
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decisions → seek → management
"Today, the owners of enterprises treat the threats we face with varying degrees of responsibility," he said.
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he → treat → responsibility
"In a number of cases, ensuring the security of facilities and staff, unfortunately, is not their priority.
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ensuring → ensure → facilities
It is precisely in such cases that the state will assume responsibility."
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state → assume → responsibility
