A new parliamentary law that allows Romanian forces to shoot down Russian drones over its territory may have avoided a clash with NATO.
Russia struck a missile close to Romania’s border, but a recent law allowing its armed forces to shoot down Russian drones that fly over its territory prevented Moscow from encroaching on its territory.
Russia struck a gas distribution center around Ismail Area in south Ukraine with Shahed kamikaze drones on Tuesday and Wednesday, a whisker from Romania’s border. Bucharest scrambled two F-16 aircraft to monitor. No unauthorized intrusions were reported.
“On the night of August 5 to 6, Russian forces launched a massive drone attack on civilian infrastructure in the Ismail area, Ukraine, near the border with Romania. The Defense Ministry radar systems detected air targets in Ukrainian space, close to Tulcea County. At 01:10, the population in the north of the county was alerted, the ministry said.
There was no immediate evidence that Moscow had deliberately targeted its territory.
“They know we passed this law, and in the last two months they have avoided crossing into our airspace,” one Romanian defense source was quoted as saying.
Parliament passed a law in February in response to Russian drones spilling over into its territory during attacks on Ukraine.
The law specifies that Romanian authorities must establish the drone’s position and identity, attempt contact, intercept and fire warning shots, before neutralizing it.
Piloted vehicles can only be obliterated if they conduct an attack or respond aggressively.
Romania shares a 600-kilometer border with Ukraine.
Ukraine receives gas through the Orlovka gas distribution center in Izmail from Greece, Turkey and Romania.
If Russia had entered Romanian territory and Romania responded by shooting down its drones, it would have increased tensions and the risk of drawing a NATO member state directly into the war.
NATO allies agree to Article 5, a collective defense pact that states each would come to the aid of the other in the case of an attack.
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