Russian lawmakers have passed a bill that would allow trained bank employees to shoot down Ukrainian drones amid an increase in attacks. The draft legislation, which passed its third reading in the State Duma, would see banks across Russia install electronic jamming systems while selected employees would be authorized to destroy incoming unmanned aircraft.

The bill claims to protect Bank of Russia facilities, including those in the four eastern Ukrainian regions that Moscow has annexed despite not fully controlling them. The measure comes as Ukraine has intensified drone strikes on Russian infrastructure, particularly targeting the energy sector.

Under the plan, banks would finance the installation of equipment on their premises. The bill was first presented in August and later expanded; it now requires approval from the Federation Council and President Vladimir Putin's signature to become law.

Russia is increasingly struggling to defend its vast territory from sophisticated Ukrainian long-range drones. The initiative deviates from Putin's efforts to shield Russians from the war's impact on daily life. Questions remain about the practical implementation, as widespread installation and training would require significant organizational effort.

The bill allows bank employees to jam or intercept drone control signals and destroy unmanned aerial, underwater, and ground vehicles threatening their facilities without waiting for security services. Anatoly Aksakov, chairman of the State Duma Committee on Financial Markets, stated that jamming would complicate targeting, and additional means would be used to shoot down drones.

Source: www.aljazeera.com