The Federation Council of Russia approved legislation on May 20 that permits the downing of Ukrainian and other “hostile” drones over oil and gas platforms in the Russian sector of the Caspian Sea.
In its explanatory notes, the Russian government acknowledged that drone attacks have emerged as a significant threat to its economic interests in the Caspian region. This includes facilities operated by the Russian company Lukoil, which extracts oil from the Filanovsky and Korchagin fields. Reports indicate that these platforms have been targeted multiple times by Ukrainian drones.
Image: The Caspian Sea and the area of Russian oil platforms, located over 800 km from Ukraine (screenshot from NASA FIRMS).
The newly enacted federal law aims to eliminate a legal vacuum and implement necessary measures to ensure the anti-terrorism protection of these facilities, while not interfering with navigation and fishing activities.
In the context of the ongoing conflict, Ukraine has consistently targeted Russian energy assets as part of its strategy to undermine the Russian economy and reduce the resources available for the Kremlin’s military operations against Ukraine.
In a related incident, on December 12, 2025, Ukrainian Special Operations Forces, in collaboration with the “Black Spark” movement, conducted an operation in the Caspian Sea that resulted in the destruction of two Russian vessels carrying weapons and equipment, including the cargo ship “Composer Rachmaninoff.” On the night of December 19, 2025, Ukrainian drones attacked a Russian ship and a Lukoil platform in the Caspian Sea.
The Russian Federation Council has enacted a law allowing the downing of hostile drones over its Caspian Sea oil platforms, highlighting the increasing threat posed by Ukrainian drone attacks to Russian economic interests in the region. This legislation aims to bolster anti-terrorism measures without disrupting maritime activities.