Full Breakdown
Putin’s Decree on Temporary State Control of Damage-Prone Infrastructure
8/26/2026, 10:06:27 PM
Core Event: Decree No. 604 Authorizes State Management of Vulnerable Assets
On August 24 2026, President Vladimir Putin signed Decree No. 604, allowing the government to place “critical infrastructure facilities” under temporary state management when owners fail to protect sites from Ukrainian drone attacks or to restore them promptly. The Federal Agency for State Property Management (Rosimushchestvo) will act as the default manager, receiving all ownership powers except the right to dispose of the transferred property. The decree has no set time limit; termination occurs only by a presidential instruction.
Background & Context: Escalating Ukrainian Drone Campaign
Ukrainian long-range drones have intensified attacks on Russian economic targets in 2026. Financial-Times calculations cited by Euronews record at least 194 successful strikes on Russian refineries in the first half of 2026, an 11-fold rise from the same period in 2025. Logistics hubs have also been hit: The Insider counted 21 attacks on Wildberries facilities across 16 regions by August 19, damaging roughly 2.3 million m² of storage space. Ozon reported four logistics sites struck in early August, including its first-time hit on August 22. The Afipsky refinery in Krasnodar suffered a fire after a drone strike on August 25, confirmed by regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev.
Data & Statistics
- 194 refinery strikes (first half of 2026) – Financial Times.
- 21 Wildberries facilities attacked (by Aug 19) – The Insider.
- 4 Ozon logistics sites hit (early August) – Ozon statements.
- 5 strikes on Afipsky refinery in 2026 – Daily Beast.
- 70 total refinery strikes reported in 2026 by the Moscow Times.
Official Statements & Responses
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned of “an obvious threat of drone attacks on critical infrastructure facilities.”
- Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov stressed the measure is “not about nationalisation or a change in the form of ownership.”
- Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak ordered oil companies three days before the decree to revise refinery maintenance schedules.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the total number of refinery strikes in 2026: the Financial-Times-based count versus the Moscow Times figure. No methodology is disclosed, leaving the precise scale ambiguous. The decree also lacks clear standards for “adequate protection” or the timeframe for “timely restoration,” creating uncertainty for businesses.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Why spend billions if they’re going to get hit again tomorrow?” — Abbas Gallyamov, political analyst
- “We are facing an obvious threat of drone attacks on critical infrastructure facilities,” — Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman
- “I want to stress that this is not about nationalization or a change in the form of ownership,” — Denis Manturov, deputy prime minister
What’s Next: Implementation Outlook
Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said state intervention will be “targeted, carefully considered” and decided case-by-case. The Finance Ministry has proposed extending tax and insurance deadlines for Wildberries and its sellers, while the Kremlin pledged to improve air-defence capabilities nationwide. No further legislative deadlines have been announced.
