Romania will shoot down Russian drones, as the parliament has approved the necessary legislation.

The Romanian Parliament approved a law on February 26 that permits the country to shoot down drones violating its airspace.

This decision was prompted by several incidents in which Russian drones crashed onto Romanian territory during attacks on neighboring Ukraine.

“Drones that illegally cross the state border of Romania and fly in national airspace without permission may be destroyed, neutralized, or taken under control,” the law states.

Following parliamentary approval, the law will now be presented to Romania's interim president, Ilie Bolojan, who assumed the role after former president Klaus Iohannis announced his resignation on February 10.

“We are strengthening Romania's defense! The first law regulates the downing of unauthorized drones that violate Romanian airspace. The second law allows for more effective collaboration between the Romanian army and NATO partners on national territory, during military missions, and operations in peacetime,” stated interim Senate head Mircea Abudean on Facebook, announcing the new law.

Last month, the Romanian Ministry of Defense confirmed that it had discovered fragments of Russian drones in two localities near the Romanian-Ukrainian border. The debris was found after Russia conducted a nighttime airstrike on Ukraine.

This is not the first instance of Russian drone debris being found in Romania, a NATO member. The Romanian armed forces have scrambled F-16 fighters to protect the country's airspace amid Russia's attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure along the Danube River.

In response to the escalating actions of Russia, the Romanian Ministry of Defense published a draft law in October 2024 that allows Romania to shoot down aircraft that illegally violate its airspace.

Background. Not all news from Romania is positive. Recently, pro-Russian former candidate Georgescu, who referred to Ukraine as a “fictional country,” was charged with criminal offenses. He has been placed under judicial supervision and is prohibited from leaving the country.