Romania has passed a law to shoot down drones that violate the country’s airspace after numerous Russian drones did so while attacking Ukraine, according to the Romania Journal.
Newsweek reached out to Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment via email.
Stanislav Krasilnikov/Associated Press
Why It Matters
As Romania shares an approximately 381-mile border with Ukraine, it has been in close proximity to Russia’s previous attacks on Ukraine.
In passing this law to neutralize or destroy Russian drones violating Romanian airspace, other countries may follow suit, thus increasing tensions with Moscow.
What To Know
The Romanian Parliament passed the law that allows the country to shoot down drones violating Bucharest’s airspace on February 26. The law aims to “regulates the peaceful conduct of military missions and operations on the territory of the Romanian state when there is no war.” The law received 81 votes in its favor, 12 against it, and two abstentions.
Article 21 of the law states: “An aircraft without a pilot on board that illegally crosses the state border of Romania and flies in the national airspace without authorization may be destroyed, neutralized or control may be taken over.”
The law stipulates that, in comparison, in response to piloted vehicles, Romania must establish the aircraft’s position and identity, attempt contact, intercept, and fire warning shots, according to Reuters. Piloted vehicles can only be destroyed if they conduct an attack or respond aggressively to interception.
Romania initially drafted the law in October 2024 after Russian attacks began to increase, according to the English-language Ukrainian online newspaper Kyiv Independent.
There have been several instances in which Russian drones have violated Romanian airspace in the three-year war with Ukraine. The devices violated Romanian airspace in September 2024, and drone fragments were found in the country in July 2024.
What People Are Saying
Roger Hilton, a media presenter and research fellow at the Slovakia-based think tank GLOBSEC, told Newsweek about Romania’s new law: “Romania’s decision to approve neutralizing drones encroaching its airspace marks a significant but measured escalation by a NATO ally in response to Russia’s continuous drone warfare straddling its border.
“This justified policy shift reflects growing frustration over repeated Russian drone incursions, which have endangered Romanian citizens and violated its sovereignty, despite diplomatic efforts by Bucharest to resolve the issue.
“By adopting a more forceful position, Romania is signaling to both Moscow and NATO that it will not tolerate unchecked airspace violations. While this new policy carries new potential avenues of escalation, Romania was left with very alternatives.”
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Viktor Kovalenko, a former Ukrainian journalist, wrote: “The Parliament of Romania, a NATO country, allowed its Armed Forces to shot down, take control over, or neutralize by electronic countermeasures Russian attack drones that regularly fly into the Romanian airspace to make flight maneuvers to better hit targets in bordering Ukraine. However, the text of a new legislature mentions only drones “illegally entering airspace.” Does it mean that Russia can still fly their drones in Romanian airspace legally?”
In a post on Facebook, interim Senate Chair Mircea Abrudean wrote: “We are strengthening the defense of Romania! Today I led the plenary session in which two essential laws for national security were voted and adopted, designed to strengthen Romania’s defense capacity and discourage any threat. As NLP has committed, we keep our word and put the safety of Romanians first.
“The first law regulates the downing of unauthorized drones that violate Romanian airspace. The second law allows for more effective collaboration of the Romanian Army with NATO partners on the national territory, in missions and military operations conducted during peace.
“Unfortunately, the senators AUR, SOS and POT have again demonstrated that they are not true patriots, and the security of Romania is not a priority for them. Through their attitude they showed that they serve other interests, not those of the Romanians! Romania’s safety is non-negotiable!”
What Happens Next
Following its approval by parliament, the law will be passed to the desk of interim Romanian President Ilie Bolojan.