Romanians from Tulcea and Constanța were sent to civilian shelters on Saturday night because of Russian drones. General Virgil Bălăceanu claims that although the army had the technical means to take them down, it could not do it, because the politicians did not change the legislation.
The legislation does not allow the military to shoot down Russian drones. PHOTO. Shutterstock
A Ro-Alert message was issued, on the night of Saturday to Sunday, for the residents of Tulcea and Constanța counties. Citizens were warned that there is a risk of objects falling from the airspace and were advised to keep calm and take shelter in cellars or civil protection shelters.
The Air Command of Ukraine specified on its Telegram channel that “a group of drones violated the territory of Romania”, entering Vilkove.
MApN reported that two F-16 planes “took off from Borcea Air Base 86”, and ISU Tulcea reported that people did not call 112.
General (r) Virgil Bălăceanu, the president of the Romanian Reserve Officers Association and former representative of Romania at the NATO Command in Brussels, told “Adevărul” that when these drones cause human casualties or serious material damage, the politicians will amend the legislation in such a way that they can be struck down.
He also claimed that he cannot explain why politicians do not change the legislation so that these drones can be shot down.
“The political class must be asked why they don’t want to do such a thing”
The truth: Do you think Romania could have done more than issue a warning about these drones or this drone that entered Romanian airspace?
Virgil Bălăceanu: No, because the law doesn’t allow it. At the present time, Romania is in a state of peace, weapons are only used when military objectives are attacked; in the ranges of the Ministry of Defense, for training, at the shooting sessions with war ammunition; and, of course, for air policing, which means following steps and is about destroying manned aircraft, not drones.
In order for drones to be shot down, three laws must be amended. They are not fined. The political class must be asked why they do not want to do such a thing. It’s hard to explain.
It is about the law 257 regarding the mode of action against aircrafts that enter the airspace of Romania without authorization. It is about the law on the arms and ammunition regime and the law on the organization and operation of the Ministry of Defense.
The Chief of Defense, half a year ago, said that the legislation does not allow it.
“The F 16s could do nothing but follow”
However, two F 16 aircraft were raised…
Even in the recent situation, two F 16 aircraft were raised in vain, in vain they identified and caught on the radar the target, the drone, because they could not do anything but follow.
Otherwise, it was not possible to fire even with air-to-air missiles, although it would have been quite a difficult and expensive mission.
Currently, there are means in the equipment of the Romanian Army that can combat drones that enter without authorization. Of course, here we also have to take time into account, that a fire mission cannot be executed in 10-15 seconds. Especially to execute destruction fire, in the situation where drifting drones appear. Drifting drones means drones struck by fire or struck electronically by electronic means. Most of those who attack the Danube ports are hit by the Ukrainians with the fire of their equipment, especially anti-aircraft machine guns. So not extremely efficient means. Means that means the anti-aircraft machine guns we were talking about, caliber 23mm, entered into their equipment many years ago. The model is Soviet.
“But if we are going to have human casualties, rest assured that in the next 3 days we will have these laws amended”
What do you think is the red line that should be crossed so that Romania finally changes the laws and the army can shoot down these drones?
The red line would be western support for Ukraine diminished in the years to come, a resistance in the defense of Ukraine considerably and surely diminished, the opening of the Odesa operation, that means the creation of the southern corridor, and that also means reaching the mouths of the Danube and Transnistria.
Then things will be more complicated than the part related to taking action against drones.
But the red line with drones, especially drifting drones, will be when the first human casualties occur. God forbid, it’s a holiday, let that not be the case.
But if we have human casualties, deaths or serious injuries, rest assured that within the next 3 days we will have these laws amended so that the Department of Defense can also fulfill its mission to combat these drones. Therefore, it cannot be done legislatively.
We have means in our endowment, but surely the endowment should also be more oriented towards anti-drone means.
We were saying at one point that the presence of American means would also help us, given that we donate, for example, a battery to the Patriot system. That would mean thinking about how we’re going to replace it, but also asking for more. Well, what could we ask for? Which means a danger for us, for the lives of Romanians, especially those from Tulcea county, especially those from the localities located on the right bank of the Danube, but not only. Then things could be resolved overnight.
Let’s not forget that in 1999, I think I’m not wrong, when there was another attempt to bring miners to Bucharest, an emergency ordinance was issued overnight regarding how the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Defense should act in such a situation. Overnight. Until then he waited. This is why we have lessons from our history because mining also represents a unfortunately painful history, which are not learned even now.
So we have two red lines, for drones, the first victims among Romanian citizens or a huge material damage. By accident, a drifting drone can also hit a fuel depot and a major fire can occur.
But the loss of human lives would determine, I repeat, the adoption with maximum urgency of such provisions. This is probably what our politicians are waiting for.
And our politicians are waiting for the Russians to arrive at the mouths of the Danube so that we can solve problems related to the defense capacity. Problems related to the defense industry that does not exist, problems related to the reserve of the Romanian Army, which is no longer trained.
Things are very complicated, with big backlogs.
What would be Russia’s reaction
Let’s say the legislation is passed, and the armed forces shoot down a Russian drone. Is there a danger of escalation?
Not because they are operating in our airspace. Of course, if the drone is hit or when it is shot at, it is possible that some projectiles will end up in Ukrainian airspace, but these things can be regulated by national legislation and, of course, by an agreement with Ukraine.
But in relation to Russia? Would Russia be “upset” that we shot down their drones?
Russia can’t be upset, because the drifting drones are not sent by the Russians. Drifting drones mean they were shot down by the Ukrainians. And the others flying over, as it seems happened at the last entry into our territory, I think it is not often a challenge, we will see in the next period, but probably a mistake in terms of programming.
But we can also witness challenges. That is, the drone is in and out, not targeting a military objective. So including the drones that would enter Romania’s airspace must be hit, including the drifting drones must be hit, I’m not talking about debris. Debris is difficult to hit, but debris has far, far less impact than what an explosion does.
