The Russian government has authorized federal postal service employees to carry anti-drone weapons as Ukraine ramps up its attacks across the country.
“Special technical means of countering unmanned aerial, underwater and surface vessels and vehicles, autonomous land vehicles and other automated unmanned systems” have been added to an official list of weapons, ammunition and special gear.
A 2005 government decree already allows postal employees to carry 9mm pistols, as well as stun guns and body armor. These weapons are typically given to security staff transporting cash.
The expanded decree signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin last Thursday does not specify which Russian Post workers will receive the anti-drone weapons.
The expansion follows a surge in Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian infrastructure over the summer, including oil refineries and the warehouses and logistics hubs of major online retailers Wildberries and Ozon.
