Romania scrambled fighter jets after a drone violated its airspace during Russian strikes near Ukraine, highlighting growing tensions along NATO’s eastern flank. The Romanian Defence Ministry confirmed that two F-16s, followed by two Eurofighters from Germany’s air policing mission, were launched on Saturday after the drone entered national airspace during Moscow’s bombardment of Ukrainian infrastructure near the border.
Defence Minister Ionut Mosteanu said the drone flew very low and was nearly intercepted before it left Romanian airspace and returned toward Ukraine. Authorities warned residents in Tulcea county, near the Danube and close to Ukraine’s border, to take cover as the situation unfolded. The drone was last tracked around 20 km southwest of Chilia Veche before disappearing from radar.
The incident prompted helicopters to be deployed to survey the area for potential debris, though preliminary information suggests the drone fully exited Romania’s airspace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later claimed that data indicated the drone penetrated 10 kilometres into Romanian territory and lingered for nearly 50 minutes inside NATO-controlled skies. He condemned the violation as an “obvious expansion of the war by Russia” and urged tougher sanctions and tariffs against Moscow, while stressing the need for collective defence.
This comes just days after Poland shot down Russian drones in its airspace with support from NATO allies, marking the first time a member of the Western alliance has taken such direct defensive action during the Ukraine war. The Polish military also closed Lublin airport over drone threats, reflecting the wider regional concerns about escalating aerial incursions.
Romania, which shares a 650-km border with Ukraine, has faced multiple incidents of Russian drone fragments falling onto its territory since the war began. Earlier this year, lawmakers passed legislation allowing the military to down drones that breach Romanian skies even in peacetime, although enforcement protocols are still pending approval.
The breach has drawn swift condemnation from NATO allies. Sweden’s Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard called it “another unacceptable violation of NATO airspace” and pledged full solidarity with Romania. NATO, meanwhile, announced plans on Friday to bolster defences along its eastern borders in response to Russia’s intensified drone operations.
