Russia approves law permitting drones to be shot down over oil and gas rigs in Caspian Sea, Ifx reports

MOSCOW, - Russia's upper house ​of parliament, the ​Federation Council, on Wednesday approved ​a law allowing Ukrainian and other hostile drones to be shot down over oil and ‌gas rigs ⁠in ⁠the Russian sector of the Caspian ​Sea, the Interfax news agency reported.

Russia's second-largest oil producer ​Lukoil extracts oil at two major projects in the Caspian Sea - the Filanovsky ​and Korchagin fields, ⁠which have ‌been repeatedly attacked by Ukrainian ​drones.

Ukraine ​has intensified its attacks ⁠on Russian energy facilities as part of ​its push to weaken Russia's ​economy and hence funding for its troop fighting in Ukraine.


According to a note published on the parliament's website, drones pose one of ‌the most serious threats to Russia's economic interests in the Caspian ​sea.

"Adoption ​of the ⁠relevant federal law will make it possible to eliminate the legal vacuum and take ​the necessary measures to ensure the anti-terrorism protection of such facilities, without affecting issues of shipping and fishing," the note said.