Russian
authorities have approved a mechanism allowing private companies to purchase
heavy weaponry to defend industrial facilities against drone attacks, the RBC
news website reported, citing sources linked to the Defense Ministry. The new
system will allow companies to procure anti-aircraft artillery systems,
turrets, radar equipment, specialized vehicles and electronic warfare systems,
RBC reported.
“In
order to promptly provide newly formed mobile fire groups with everything they
need, the relevant decisions were recently adopted at the state level,” one
source told RBC.
The
move underscores mounting concern among Russian authorities and business
leaders over the growing frequency of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting oil
refineries, industrial sites and other strategic infrastructure across European
Russia.
The
issue was publicly raised Monday during a meeting between President Vladimir
Putin and Alexander Shokhin, head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and
Entrepreneurs (RSPP).
“Large
companies are certainly taking steps — at least all conscientious major
companies are — to protect both their facilities and the areas where they
operate. But some issues still need to be resolved,” Shokhin told Putin, according
to a Kremlin transcript.
“These include
mechanisms for supplying weapons — not only light 7.62 mm firearms, but also
heavier weapons systems. That includes various electronic warfare systems,
laser installations and other types of weaponry,” he said. He also asked
authorities to permanently assign reservists to specific industrial sites,
complaining that personnel were frequently reassigned elsewhere.
RBC
reported that most regions in European Russia are already forming new mobile
fire groups consisting of reservists, volunteers from regional BARS units and
employees of private companies.
To
speed up deployment, weaponry purchased by private firms will reportedly be
transferred directly to military units tasked with protecting industrial and
civilian infrastructure, one source said.
Previously,
private companies were only allowed to purchase passive defense systems through
the open market or the Industry and Trade Ministry. Procurement of light
firearms for private security personnel was handled through Russia’s National
Guard.
Separately,
a Pantsir-SMD-E air defense system appeared to have been installed atop
Moscow’s 42-story Nordstar Tower skyscraper. Video published by military
analyst Yan Matveyev showed a helicopter lowering the system onto the roof.
The
pro-war Telegram channel Voenny Osvedomitel said the system is specifically
designed to counter drones. Its combat module can carry up to 48 small-sized
Gvozd missiles with a range of 7 kilometers (4.3 miles), or standard 95Ya6
missiles with a range of up to 20 kilometers (12.4 miles). Nordstar Tower is
among Moscow’s tallest office buildings and houses major tenants including
state oil giant Rosneft, which leases nearly half the building’s space.