The Romanian Senate has passed a law concerning drones, which establishes regulations for the use of military drones during peacetime. The law permits the downing or neutralization of unmanned aerial vehicles that illegally cross the country's borders.
This was reported by Romania Journal.
Which countries' airspaces were violated by Russian missiles and drones during the bombardments of UkraineRussian missiles and drones have repeatedly breached the airspace of Romania, Poland, and Moldova. The list of incidents can be found in the infographic.In favor of the law, 81 senators voted, 12 opposed it, and two abstained.
According to the new legislation, units of the Romanian army may be placed under the command of foreign military operations on Romanian territory if necessary.
A specific provision outlines the right to destroy unmanned aerial vehicles that violate the country's airspace without permission. Article 21 of the law on the control of the national airspace allows for measures to be taken against such drones.
Currently, Romanian authorities need to determine who will be authorized to make the decision to open fire on drones. According to General Virgil Bălăceanu, a former commander of the multinational brigade SEEBRIG, this authority should be granted to commanders carrying out missions in areas where violations have been documented. He emphasized that an appropriate legal mechanism, modern countermeasures, and a short decision-making chain are necessary for immediate response to illegal flights.
It is worth noting that on February 13, two Russian drones were discovered in Romania. Both drones were carrying explosives.
Additionally, on January 17, traces of a potential strike by a Russian drone were found in the Tulcea County of Romania, which borders Ukraine.