Russian oblasts have begun recruiting reservists on a large scale into units tasked with protecting critical infrastructure.

Source: Kommersant, a Russian media outlet

Quote: "This work is ongoing in 20-odd federal entities of the Russian Federation. For this period, reservists, engaged primarily to counter hostile drones, will receive the status of service personnel with all due benefits, including social guarantees and payments."

Details: Kommersant reports that on 4 November, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin signed a law permitting reservists to be deployed for such purposes in both war and peace, although the formation of special reservist detachments began before the amendments took effect.

The authorities in Russia's Leningrad Oblast were among the first to announce the creation of a BARS-47 detachment at the end of October. The unit is intended to repel UAV attacks and thwart sabotage operations.

Recruitment of reservists to guard various critical facilities (oil, fuel and energy, petrochemical complexes and others) has also begun in Tatarstan, Bashkortostan and Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. Important refineries and plants in these regions have repeatedly come under drone attack.

In the border Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk oblasts of Russia, BARS detachments were created back in 2024 under local authorities to perform similar tasks to protect strategic sites and infrastructure. Under the new reservist law, additional units are now planned in Bryansk and Kursk oblasts to operate alongside the existing detachments.

It has been reported that reservists sign a standard contract stipulating they will be deployed only within their home region.

However, in the border oblasts, reservists will not be limited to guarding fuel and energy facilities and counter-UAV duties; they will also be required to confront reconnaissance and sabotage groups, assist with civilian evacuations and support the so-called "counter-terrorist operation regime".

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