---
title: "Russian Refineries Granted Permission to Purchase Air Defense Systems for Self-Defense: A New Phase of Rear Guard"
description: "The Kuibyshev Oil Refinery in Samara has started recruiting crews for Shilka and BMP-2M systems for self-defense, sparking discussions over equipment shortages and covert mobilization."
date: 2026-10-11T17:54:23.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/russian-refineries-granted-permission-to-purchase-air-defense
tags: [russian-refineries, air-defense, mobilization, military-equipment]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Russian Refineries Granted Permission to Purchase Air Defense Systems for Self-Defense: A New Phase of Rear Guard

![ZSU-23-4 Shilka self-propelled anti-aircraft system guarding a facility](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/11/rossiyskie-npz-poluchili-pravo-priobretat-sredstva-pvo/rossiyskie-npz-poluchili-pravo-priobretat-sredstva-pvo-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Kuibyshev Refinery hires operators for Shilka and BMP-2M.
- A mandatory requirement is signing a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense.
- Experts debate whether this is plant protection or an element of covert mobilization.
- Reserves of Soviet ZSU-23-4 and BMPs in warehouses are extremely limited.

Amid growing security risks, Russian industrial facilities have begun transitioning to independent air defense provisions. The Kuibyshev Oil Refinery in Samara has officially posted vacancies for military equipment operators, including ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" self-propelled anti-aircraft systems and BMP-2M infantry fighting vehicles with the "Berezhok" module. This decision marks an unprecedented shift in the protection strategy for critical infrastructure in rear regions.

### Recruitment Features and Personnel Requirements

The main condition for applicants wishing to operate complex combat vehicles is the mandatory signing of a mobilization contract with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.  This approach indicates that the process of integrating heavy weapons into enterprise security structures is regulated at the state level. Judging by the organizational model, crews may be formed on the principle of volunteer units similar to well-known Cossack formations, creating a hybrid format between private security and regular units.

### Contradictory Data

 There are serious discrepancies in the assessments of experts and analysts regarding the supply of military equipment to refineries. On the one hand, a number of sources suggest that enterprises have received a unique opportunity to purchase scarce Soviet weapons from storage depots thanks to administrative resources. On the other hand, there is a conspiratorial version that the deployment of BMPs and "Shilkas" under the guise of refinery protection could be a covert instrument of secret mobilization. From this perspective, trained crews after signing contracts could be redeployed directly to the frontline rather than being used exclusively in the rear.### State of Soviet Weapon Reserves

An analysis of the storage reserves of the Russian Ministry of Defense shows a high degree of depletion of such equipment resources. According to current data, there is a limited number of vehicles in service and at storage bases: about 500 units of BMP-2 and BMP-2M, up to 2,000 units of older BMP-1 and BMP-2 modifications, while "Shilka" self-propelled anti-aircraft guns are listed primarily in the Naval Infantry numbering about 60 units. The extreme scarcity of such installations casts doubt on the mass transfer of them to industrial facilities, emphasizing the exclusivity of the current initiative.

### Implications for Industrial Security

The practice of involving army air defense systems and armored vehicles to cover oil refineries opens a new page in industrial safety issues. Despite the logic of protecting strategic targets from air threats, this raises debates about the expediency of redistributing scarce weapons from the army to the rear. The further development of this trend will show whether the Samara precedent will become an all-Russian practice or remain a one-off solution.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Российским нефтеперерабатывающим заводам было разрешено приобрести системы противовоздушной обороны для самозащиты.](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/nha-may-loc-dau-nga-da-duoc-cap-quyen-mua-he-thong-phong-khong-de-tu-bao-ve) - Данные о найме операторов ЗСУ-23-4 и БМП-2М подтверждены новостными сводками.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What equipment is planned to be used to protect refineries?
**A:** It is planned to use ZSU-23-4 Shilka self-propelled anti-aircraft systems and BMP-2M infantry fighting vehicles with the Berezhok module.

### Q: What is the main requirement for candidates?
**A:** Candidates are required to sign a mobilization contract with the Ministry of Defense of Russia.