Romania Reports Russian Drone Incursion, Second NATO Country Affected This Week
Romania has accused Russia of violating its airspace after a drone crossed into its territory during Moscow’s latest strikes on Ukraine. This marks the second NATO member state to report such an incident in recent days, following Poland’s announcement earlier this week.
According to Romania’s defence ministry, two F-16 fighter jets were already airborne on Saturday, monitoring Russian attacks near Ukraine’s southern border, when the drone was detected. It appeared on radar approximately 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) southwest of Chilia Veche, a village near the Danube River. The drone later vanished from radar without flying over populated areas or posing immediate danger.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the incident, calling it “an obvious expansion of the war by Russia” and dismissing the possibility of it being a mistake. Moscow has yet to issue a response.
NATO Allies on Alert
The breach comes just days after Poland reported shooting down at least three Russian drones that entered its airspace. In response, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced “preventative operations” with Polish and allied aircraft now patrolling the skies, while ground-based air defense systems have been placed on high alert.
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, described the Romanian incident as “yet another unacceptable violation of an EU member state’s sovereignty.”
Regional Response Intensifies
Belarus, a close ally of Moscow, claimed the drones that crossed into Poland were an accident caused by jammed navigation systems. Still, NATO allies are boosting readiness. On Sunday, the Czech Republic confirmed it had deployed a special operations helicopter unit to Poland, consisting of three Mi-171S helicopters equipped to transport troops and conduct combat operations.
Czech Defence Minister Jana Cernochova said the move was a direct response to Russia’s continued incursions along NATO’s eastern flank.
Rising International Pressure
President Zelensky has urged Western allies to impose tougher sanctions on Moscow, stressing that Russia’s military “knows exactly where their drones are headed and how long they can operate.”
U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in earlier this week, saying he was “ready” to introduce stricter sanctions against Russia, but only if NATO countries agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has dragged on for over three years. Despite diplomatic efforts led by Trump in recent months, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine following President Vladimir Putin’s return from a summit with Trump in Alaska.