Head of the IT Committee of the State Duma Alexander Khinshtein reported about the introduction of bill No. 686463-8 “On amendments to individual legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” in parliament. This bill aims to give security units of objects within the fuel and energy complex and transport infrastructure the authority to interfere with the navigation systems of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The primary objective of this initiative is to enhance safety measures and anti-terrorist protection of strategic facilities from unauthorized intervention using drones. Alongside Khinshtein, Senator Andrey Klishas and deputies Andrei Kartapolov and Dmitry Vyatkin are also co-authors of the bill.
According to the explanatory note, the need for this bill arises from documented instances of drones being used to cause harm to critical installations. Khinshtein underscores the urgency of this legislation, highlighting that UAVs can continue their operations using satellite navigation systems even without other control channels.
As per the provisions of the bill, security units will have the right to utilize electronic means to disrupt or modify the remote control signals of drones, and to impact their onboard satellite navigation receivers. The bill includes modifications to the Federal Law of July 21, 2011 No. 256-ФЗ “On the safety of objects of the fuel and energy complex” and the Federal Law of February 9, 2007 No. 16-ФЗ “On Transport Security”.
Moreover, the document suggests exempting private and departmental protection personnel from liability for damages caused to third parties while legitimately using weapons and specialized technical devices to counter UAVs in defense of the safeguarded installation.
A significant focus of the bill is on the legal framework concerning the utilization of electronic warfare (EEB) beyond protected sites. Currently, security personnel are only permitted to deploy special equipment and firearms on the premises of safeguarded facilities or during the pursuit of offenders. The proposal seeks to broaden these capabilities by allowing the use of such measures to disrupt drone operations outside the boundaries of protected sites.
Furthermore, the bill introduces fresh criteria for classifying fuel and energy facilities situated within the confines of transport infrastructure.