Putin orders reservists to protect infrastructure from Ukrainian drones
On 30 December 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree calling for special assemblies of citizens in the mobilization reserve to carry out tasks defending critical infrastructure throughout 2026, according to the Russian BBC service.
The decree officially assigns reservists a new role: they will now be involved in guarding oil refineries, transport hubs, and energy facilities, which have repeatedly been targeted by Ukrainian drones. The Russian government has been tasked with compiling a complete list of critical facilities requiring enhanced protection by reserve units.
In November 2025, the head of the Duma’s Defense Committee, Andriy Kartapolov, stated that Russia’s active reserve numbers around 30,000 personnel. However, Putin has decided to significantly expand this figure. According to intelligence reports and international analysts, the Kremlin is effectively establishing a “hidden mobilization”, granting reservists active military status during their assemblies. The total number of people involved in such formations could reach 2 million, allowing Russia to free up regular troops from rear duties for deployment to the front lines.
The formation of units for protecting critical infrastructure began before the official decree. In Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, and Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, where major oil refineries are located, mass recruitment has already started. For example, in Leningrad Oblast, a unit called BARS-47 was established in late October 2025, tasked with repelling drone attacks and countering sabotage groups. The Ministry of Defense plans to use these reservists as a territorial defense force to protect the fuel and energy sector, since standard air defense systems are not always able to intercept small drones deep in the rear.
The Russian General Staff confirmed strikes on the Syzran refinery and other strategic facilities. Additionally, long-range drones from Ukraine’s SBU Special Operations Center “Alpha” successfully struck two key targets in Russia’s oil and gas sector. In the Russian city of Saratov, a fire was reported near a local oil refinery.
