Putin clears firearm usage for private groups to protect Russian energy facilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on Tuesday allowing private security firms to use firearms to defend critically important energy facilities, the government said, expanding the range of weapons used for such protection.

The law, which takes immediate effect, follows an intensification of Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries and key exporting outlets as it tries to hit Moscow's revenues and undercut its military capabilities.

Private firms will be able to deploy more powerful weapons, such as Kalashnikov assault rifles, to protect key sites. Russia also said last October it would seek to use reservists to defend civilian infrastructure such as oil refineries

Some refineries, including in the republic of Bashkortostan in the Urals mountains, have installed anti-drone nets.

-Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Andrew Heavens/Reuters