Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree this week allowing the government to temporarily take control of privately owned critical infrastructure if authorities determine that its owners have failed to adequately protect or restore facilities amid escalating Ukrainian attacks inside Russia.

The decree – which took effect Monday – covers a variety of sectors, including fuel and energy, communications, transport and logistics. It allows the government to impose "temporary administration," effectively giving the state control over an owner's property, property rights and shares.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that owners "quite often" fail to take adequate security measures, including against drones. Asked which companies could be affected, he said the government and relevant agencies would analyze individual cases.

The decree does not specify who d...