Russian state agencies spent 17 billion rubles on drone defense
Novaya Gazeta Europe, analyzing state procurement data, found that Russian companies have spent 17 billion rubles on anti-drone measures since the full-scale war began. Energy and water infrastructure and airports are the main priorities.
The outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe has analyzed Russian state procurement data and calculated that companies in Russia have spent a total of 17 billion rubles on drone defense since the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine. The figures show where Russian authorities focus their protection against drones, including Ukrainian attacks.
Energy, heat and water come first
The top priority is infrastructure that supplies homes with electricity, heat and water. The largest buyer of anti-drone systems was Rosseti, the state-owned company that operates Russia's power transmission lines. Together with its subsidiaries, it spent more than three billion rubles on anti-drone equipment.
Mosvodokanal, the Moscow water utility, ranked second with 1.7 billion rubles. Energy company Inter RAO was also among the biggest buyers, spending 1.3 billion rubles on countering drones.
Protecting airports
Civilian airports are the other area given particular emphasis. Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport and the State Air Traffic Management Corporation were among the largest buyers of drone-defense equipment. Novaya Gazeta Europe reports that hundreds of millions of rubles are being spent on airport protection even in the parts of Russia farthest from Ukraine. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport, for instance, bought equipment for about 300 million rubles.
New decree on temporary management
At the end of August, Russia's president signed a decree allowing temporary management to be imposed on critical infrastructure facilities whose owners fail to protect them from security threats, including Ukrainian drone attacks. Under the decree, the temporary administrator will be Rosimushchestvo, the Federal Agency for State Property Management, or another entity designated by the government.
