Nato member Romania planning law on downing drones breaching its airspace
- 30 October, 10:00
Romania might adopt a law about shooting down any drone that illegally violates its airspace. The country’s Defence Ministry proposed the relevant draft law on October 28.
If passed, the law will allow Romanian military personnel to intercept and, when necessary, destroy piloted and unmanned aircraft breaching its airspace under certain circumstances. The legislative proposal must be approved by the government and the parliament.
“At a European Union level efforts continue for a unitary approach to unmanned aerial vehicles as well as to establish measures to counter risks,” the bill says.
The draft law was introduced to public debate following numerous breach of Romania’s airspace, most probably used by Russia during its attacks on Ukraine along the Black Sea and Danube River.
Romania that is a member of NATO, has reported several cases of violation of its airspace by Russia. The country’s Defense Ministry confirmed on September 9 that it had found Russian drone fragments near Periprava village, situated directly across the Danube River from the Ukrainian border. The confirmation came hours after the ministry reported that overnight Russian drone attack on Ukraine violated Romania’s airspace.
"The Defense Ministry strongly condemns these attacks by the Russian Federation against Ukrainian civilian facilities and infrastructure, which are unjustified and seriously violate international law," the ministry said in its statement on September 8.
