Putin Grants Government Powers to Control Critical Infrastructure Sites Amid Ukraine Threats

President Vladimir Putin on Monday granted the government powers to take control of critically important infrastructure sites if they are deemed to be poorly protected against Ukrainian strikes and other threats. The special powers, set out in an executive order , allow the state to assume control over the physical, financial and legal assets of facilities that fail to maintain adequate security or are slow to make repairs following attacks. Putin's order encompasses a wide array of sectors, including fuel, energy, industrial, communications, transportation and commercial logistics sites deemed essential to national security and economic stability. The new powers come a week after the president instructed the government to help rebuild commercial warehouses that have been damaged in Ukrainian attacks. Since the start of the summer, Ukraine has ramped up its attacks against Russian oil refineries and, increasingly, warehouses and logistics hubs belonging to major online retailers. On Monday, Russia 's second-largest online retailer Ozon said four of its facilities in southern Russia were targeted in Ukrainian attacks. Reuters contributed reporting.