Romania to install anti-drone defense system along border with Ukraine

Romania will install an anti-drone system along its border with Ukraine, Digi24 reported on Oct. 20, citing government sources.

The system will be provided by an unnamed „partner state, with the agreement of NATO,” the report said.

The anti-drone system is the latest in a number of new security measures Romania has introduced to protect its population living near the Danube River, which forms part of the 630 kilometer country’s border with Ukraine.

Ukrainian ports on the other side of the river are regularly hit by Russian attacks.

Russia pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July, and since then has launched  strikes in southwest Ukraine to prevent Kyiv from being able to export its agricultural products.

Debris from drone strikes on Ukrainian ports has been regularly landed on Romanian territory. The Romanian government has constructed air raid  shelters in high-risk areas near the border and has strengthened air defenses.

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said the strikes were not „accidental” on Friday.

„Russia knows that more than half of Ukrainian grain for export is currently transported through Romanian shipping lanes.”

The Romanian government says 27 million tons of Ukrainian grain have transited through the country since the beginning of the invasion.