By Lilya Sergeeva with AP
Russia's State Duma has passed a law authorising bank employees to shoot down Ukrainian drones, in a sign of the Kremlin's growing inability to defend its territory against attacks that have been intensifying in frequency and range while Moscow continues to wage its all-out war against Ukraine, now well into its fifth year.
Under the bill adopted on Tuesday, banks will cover the cost of installing electronic warfare equipment at their facilities.
Selected employees will be authorised to jam or intercept drone control signals and destroy unmanned aerial, underwater, and ground vehicles that threaten their sites, without waiting for security services to respond.
The bill is highly unusual in granting civilians authorisation to engage in actions reserved for the military and law enforcement. Until now, comparable powers have been held only by militarised agencies such as Rosgvardiya, Russia's National Guard.
