The Russian government has instructed major banks, including its central bank, to shoot down Ukrainian drones themselves and cover the costs. This comes as Moscow struggles to defend key sites across its vast territory against Ukrainian attacks, which have forced Russia to concentrate its air defences in areas such as Moscow, leaving other regions vulnerable. Ukrainian forces have targeted infrastructure and equipment used to support the war, including oil refineries, military factories, and natural gas networks.
According to Reuters, the Russian parliament has passed a law allowing banks, including Sberbank, to operate defence systems and arm staff against drones without special forces involvement. Anatoly Aksakov, head of the State Duma's financial committee, told RBC news outlet that the institutions would handle the costs themselves. Alexander Shokhin, head of Russia's most powerful business lobby, told President Vladimir Putin on Monday that companies were prepared to buy heavier weapons and electronic systems for self-defence.
Nearly 50 countries at the United Nations have condemned what they described as “threats by Russia to diplomatic institutions and embassies in Kyiv”. A joint statement signed by European countries, Japan, and South Korea said: “This is something which we cannot accept.” The European Union also criticised the threats, stating it had no plans to move its staff. Germany and Norway summoned Russian ambassadors to deliver reprimands.
Russia announced on Monday that it had begun a campaign of “systematic” strikes on Kyiv, targeting the capital's “decision-making centres”, and urged foreign citizens and diplomats to leave the city. Ukraine called the threats “blackmail” and encouraged allies to ignore the warning, which most have done.
The Czech Republic's initiative to supply large-calibre ammunition to Ukraine has contracts to deliver around one million rounds in 2026, the Czech defence ministry announced. Officials said it delivered about 1.5 million rounds in 2024 and 1.8 million in 2025. The programme nearly ended when Prime Minister Andrej Babis entered government with anti-Ukrainian partners in December 2024, but he kept it running under pressure from foreign allies. The Czech president, Petr Pavel, is a staunch Ukraine supporter.
The ammunition initiative matches donor countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany with Czech arms traders sourcing supplies globally. Funding has also come from the yield on frozen Russian assets provided by the European Commission. The ministry said financing of nearly €1 billion had been secured so far this year, with the amount potentially rising if more donors contribute or if Ukraine uses funds from the EU's €90 billion loan. Babis has rejected any further Czech financial contribution.
