President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a law granting the National Police and the National Guard the right to attack unmanned aerial vehicles if they violate Ukrainian airspace.

As noted in the card of relevant bill No. 8185, posted on the website of the Verkhovna Rada, the document was returned to the parliament with the signature of the head of state on July 31.

The purpose of the bill is to regulate the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in law enforcement and counteract their illegal use.

According to the document, unmanned aerial vehicles are prohibited from being used over the buildings of police departments, the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and border service facilities both during the period of martial law and after it ends.

The bill proposes to expand the powers of the National Guard, the National Police, the State Border Guard Service, the State Security Service of Ukraine in terms of their use of special means (devices) to intercept remote control signals of drones, damage or destroy them in case of violation of the airspace of Ukraine during the protection of the state border, critical infrastructure facilities and important state facilities, in special zones with a special regime.

The bill prohibits UAV flights over the border strip, with the exception of cases determined by the Cabinet of Ministers, checkpoints (control) across the state border and entry-exit checkpoints, faciities of the State Border Guard Service.

In addition, to counteract sabotage and crime in certain areas, tools and devices can be used to temporarily restrict Internet access and the use of mobile communications.

As reported, on July 13, the parliament adopted this bill as a whole.