Romania Plans to Start Shooting Down Russian Drones and Missiles

Romania has approved a bill that would allow shooting down drones or missiles that illegally enter the country’s airspace.

The Romanian newspaper Digi reported that the bill expands and regulates measures to control the use of national airspace.

The legislative initiative stipulates that Russian drones that unauthorizedly enter Romanian territory can be shot down, which was previously impossible because Romania is not at war.

The Senate should make the final decision, and then the law must be signed by Romania’s acting president, Ilie Bolojan.

The bill passed with 196 votes in favor, 99 against and two abstentions.

The initiative belonged to the Ministry of Defense and appeared in the context of a legislative gap regarding the use of the armed forces’ capabilities.

In particular, at the moment, the Romanian army cannot shoot down drones or missiles entering the airspace unless there is a state of emergency.

“If we are in a state of peace, this draft law aims to establish a way of acting against means that unauthorizedly use the country’s airspace,” the lawmakers said.

According to the draft law, NATO forces from other countries will also be able to participate in these activities in accordance with collective defense agreements.

Previously, the Romanian Ministry of Defense reported that on February 13, the wreckage of the Geran drones used by Russia to attack Ukrainian port infrastructure on the Danube was found on the country’s territory.

“Based on the results of the on-site investigations, it was found that both drones had explosive charges on board, which were destroyed when they hit the ground. Both locations are located outside of populated areas, and no infrastructure elements in the country were damaged,” the Ministry said.

In December of last year, a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile flew into Romania and Moldova and crashed in a field.