Russian companies buy machine gun turrets to defend against Ukrainian drone attacks
Russian businesses are already buying machine gun turrets (photo: wikipedia.org)
Major Russian businesses are being forced to strengthen their defenses against Ukrainian attacks on their own, with some companies already purchasing machine-gun turrets, Siberia.Realities reports.
Journalists noted that Surgut Airport, the port of Ust-Luga, and energy companies had announced relevant tenders.
In particular, JSC Surgut Airport announced a tender to purchase a turret mount, a special module with a movable base for mounting a machine gun.
According to the tender documents, the airport plans to purchase a system with two twin-mounted machine guns. It must be equipped with a thermal imaging sight, a monitor for remote control, and an external uninterruptible power supply. The estimated cost of the purchase is 909,000 rubles.
Another tender was announced by the Ust-Luga Directorate of the Northwestern Basin Branch of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Rosmorport, which is responsible for security at the port of Ust-Luga. It is looking for a supplier of three machine gun turrets equipped with thermal imaging sights and monitors. The planned expenditure is 8.9 million rubles. The port of Ust-Luga has already been targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks numerous times.
PJSC Kolymaenergo has also moved to strengthen its anti-drone defenses. The company purchased a turret for a Degtyaryov light machine gun. It is intended for use by mobile fire groups to protect a facility in the settlement of Sinegorye in Yagodninsky District. The Kolyma Hydroelectric Power Plant is located at the same address.
In addition, in November, the Angarsk Electrolysis Chemical Plant, which is part of Rosatom, announced plans to purchase a turret mount.
How Russian companies were allowed to purchase weapons
Back in May 2026, Russian media reported that Russian companies had been allowed to purchase weapons to protect themselves against enemy drones.
The available countermeasures included electronic warfare systems, interceptor drones, turret mounts, and artillery.
Amid Ukrainian Armed Forces attacks in 2026, Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing critical infrastructure facilities to be placed under state management. This measure can be applied if owners fail to provide adequate protection against drones and other threats or fail to restore a facility after an attack.
The decree covers fuel and energy facilities, utilities, transport and logistics infrastructure, and industrial enterprises. At the same time, Russian authorities insist that this does not involve a change in ownership.
Earlier, one of Russia's largest oil refineries was hit by another Ukrainian Armed Forces strike.
