Romania Authorizes Military to Shoot Down Drones, Conduct Operations in Peacetime

Romania has enacted new laws allowing its armed forces to shoot down enemy drones and carry out military operations on national territory during peacetime.

As reported by Defense Romania, interim President Ilie Bolojan signed two legislative acts: the Law on the Conduct of Military Missions and Operations on Romanian Territory in Peacetime (PL-x 5/03.02.2025) and the Law on the Control of the Use of National Airspace (PL-x 6/03.02.2025).

The laws were signed following a ruling by the Constitutional Court rejecting challenges from opposition parties AUR, S.O.S. Romania, and POT, which questioned the constitutionality of several provisions.

The legislation addresses a legal gap that previously prevented Romania’s military from using force — including shooting down drones or missiles — unless a state of emergency had been declared.

The new rules enable the Romanian Armed Forces to engage targets such as unauthorized drones and conduct defensive operations within national borders during peacetime.

They also permit military cooperation with foreign allies, including NATO forces, under collective defense agreements, without the need to declare martial law.

Opposition parties criticized the move, arguing it allows excessive military action without proper civilian oversight.

Nonetheless, the Ministry of Defense argued the measures are necessary to protect national sovereignty amid increasing violations of Romanian airspace by Russian drones and missiles.

Violation of Romanian airspace

Concerns over airspace violations have grown since several incidents in 2023 and 2024 involving Russian drones and missiles crossing Romanian territory during strikes on Ukraine.

In December 2024, a Russian cruise missile reportedly traversed Moldovan and Romanian airspace before entering Ukraine’s Chernivtsi region.

The missile flew approximately 140 kilometers through Moldovan and Romanian airspace, passing from the Vinnytsia region (Ukraine) into Botoșani County (Romania).

In addition to the cruise missiles, Shahed kamikaze drones were seen over Romanian territory, some of which, in addition to the transit flight, were lost there.

In July 2024, Romanian Foreign Minister Luminița Odobescu confirmed that debris from Shahed-type drones used in Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Odesa region had been found near the village of Plauru in Romanian territory.

Further drone fragments were discovered in September following intensified attacks on Ukraine’s border regions. The Romanian military continued to conduct search and security operations along the affected areas.