Russia Authorizes Central Bank And Financial Institutions To Shoot Down Drones After Crimea Rocket Strike

Russia has authorized its central bank and other financial institutions to shoot down drones as attacks on cities and infrastructure attributed to Ukraine have risen, officials said.

What happened: A branch of Russia's central bank in Russian-annexed Crimea was struck by a rocket on Wednesday. Local officials accused Kyiv of attempting to destabilize Russia's financial system, prompting the new authorization for financial bodies to engage hostile unmanned aerial vehicles.

Widening strikes: Ukrainian forces have increasingly carried out strikes deep inside Russian-held territory, targeting oil facilities, military sites and other infrastructure. Moscow said it reduced the scale of recent Victory Day celebrations because of security concerns.

Military outlook: A senior Ukrainian commander told Reuters that Kyiv is approaching a turning point in the war and has roughly six months to secure battlefield gains that would boost its leverage in any future peace talks.

Context and implications: Allowing financial institutions to shoot down drones is an unusual step that underscores Moscow's concern about attacks on symbolic and critical economic targets. The move could heighten tensions and raises questions about rules of engagement, command authority and the safety of financial personnel and assets in contested areas.

Note: Accusations of destabilization and responsibility for specific strikes are claims made by the parties involved and reported by officials; independent verification of every strike can be difficult in wartime conditions.