The Russian government has authorized federal postal service employees to carry anti-drone weapons as Ukraine ramps up its attacks across the country.
“Special technical means of countering unmanned aerial, underwater and surface vessels and vehicles, autonomous land vehicles and other automated unmanned systems” have been added to an official list of weapons, ammunition and special gear.
A 2005 government decree already allows postal employees to carry 9mm pistols, as well as stun guns and body armor. These weapons are typically given to security staff transporting cash.
The expanded decree signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin last Thursday does not specify which Russian Post workers will receive the anti-drone weapons.
The expansion follows a surge in Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian infrastructure over the summer, including oil refineries and the warehouses and logistics hubs of major online retailers Wildberries and Ozon.
The attacks reportedly led to a 560% increase in the commercial procurement of anti-drone defense systems in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year.
Last month, President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order allowing the state seizure of critical infrastructure facilities if they are deemed to be poorly protected against Ukrainian strikes and other threats.
Putin has since maintained that the order has “nothing to do with any plans for nationalization” of private property.
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