Russia’s central bank urges banks to ease terms for businesses hit by Ukrainian drone strikes it calls ‘terrorist attacks’
Russia’s central bank has recommended that lenders support small and medium-sized businesses hit by what it called “terrorist attacks,” a reference to Ukrainian drone strikes on warehouses and logistics centers.
In an information letter posted on its website, the Bank of Russia advised lenders to approve requests to modify loan terms regardless of whether the borrower is legally entitled to defer payments.
The central bank also advised banks to refrain from charging fines or penalties for late payments and from demanding early loan repayment. It said loan restructuring should not affect entrepreneurs’ credit histories.
The Bank of Russia also proposed that banks treat these loan restructurings as a standalone measure to support businesses — recommendations that will remain in effect until August 31, 2027.
Since mid-July, Ukrainian drones have regularly struck logistics centers belonging to the Russian marketplace Wildberries. Many of these attacks have caused major fires at the company’s warehouses.
According to a source cited by The Bell, Wildberries’ direct losses from these strikes may already exceed 100 billion rubles. In early August, the damage to the sellers was estimated at 215–280 billion rubles.
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