The military decision to shoot down a drone labelled as 'hostile' is an immediate one, according to acting Minister of National Defence Radu Miruta, who says that a change in Russia's tactics in the use of these devices is to be expected, and Romania will have to readapt.

The government official said in an interview with Digi 24 broadcast on Saturday that periodically at the level of the Ministry of National Defence (MAp) analyses the capabilities available to Romania to quickly identify and shoot down drones that arrive on the national territory. He was also asked if he had noticed a change in Russia's tactics in this regard.

'That and a change in the way we decided to intercept these drones. The two fit temporarily, because Russia will also change its tactics and we will have to readapt what has proven its functionality,' Miruta said.

At the same time, he was asked if Russian drones are deliberately sent into Romania's airspace.

'I don't know, but I see that drones that say 'Made in Russia' enter Romania without authorisation, without obeying international law, Romania being a country that is not at war. It is an extremely precise rule that says that the country from which such a drone came out is responsible wherever this drone goes. (...) If 150 drones come, we are no longer in peacetime. It is another reaction that the Romanian Army will have then. The decision to shoot down the drone is an immediate one, the second it is labelled as hostile,' said Miruta.

Given that Romania is not at war, he backed the need for a firm diplomatic protest.

'I don't think there is a need for a military escalation, but I think a diplomatic protest is needed. Why should Romania have to constantly consume resources shooting down drones sent from Russia, which are not allowed to enter Romania? However, let's look at the situation as it is in reality, Romania is not a country at war, Romania has not declared a war against the Russian Federation. Why are these drones sent to a country where the situation is of a completely different nature than it is in Ukraine? Well, some are hit by the aircraft defence in Ukraine, others are diverted, some pinch the airspace very little.'

Miruta also said that the Romanian pilots who shot down Russian drones in NATO airspace were also appreciated by British commanders and other representatives of other NATO countries.

'The military commander there knew the name of the Romanian pilot. There was a commander from UK who said to me: 'Minister, you don't realise, among us pilots, what art this boy has achieved. It's a fantastic professional matter that a pilot succeeds'. I am convinced that this is also the merit of these people, it is one beyond the passion and obligation they have. There are artists who manage to do fantastic things and to talk about Romania so beautifully,' Miruta said.

At the same time, he also mentioned that given that there were no legal bases for the Romanian pilots who shot down Russian drones to be rewarded, a way was found to be promoted in rank ahead of time. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Luisiana Bigea; EN - writing by: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu)