VTB chief pushes for banking relief to fund industrial drone defenses

Speaking on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Kostin suggested that the Central Bank should consider easing current financial regulations to facilitate lending for these security upgrades. He confirmed that VTB is prepared to back such an initiative, characterizing it as a vital step toward ensuring the operational stability of key economic sectors currently under threat.

The push for financial backing follows recent discussions between Vladimir Putin and leaders of the country's business lobby, where the necessity of equipping private enterprises with advanced defensive technology was raised. The urgency of the situation was underscored just hours before the forum began, when a drone strike hit an oil terminal in St. Petersburg, highlighting the persistent vulnerability of industrial infrastructure.