By Shumaila Aslam
Bureau Chief Pakistan
Snn News Finland
A Russian drone downed over Romania on Sunday marked the third such airspace breach in as many days, deepening concern among NATO’s eastern members about the war in Ukraine spilling across the alliance’s border.
Two Romanian F-16 fighter jets scrambled from the Feteศti airbase and shot down the drone over the Black Sea, near the SulinaโChilia area, according to Romanian President Nicusor Dan, who said the aircraft was intercepted at 10:13 a.m.
Third Incident in Three Days Raises Alarm
Romania had gone the entire war without successfully intercepting a drone until Friday.
That first drone was shot down by a Romanian F-16 pilot roughly 114 kilometers from Bucharest, over the uninhabited village of Padina, President Dan said.
A second drone followed Saturday morning near Sfรขntu Gheorghe, with the Defence Ministry noting the incident’s pattern matched previous confirmed Russian drone flights.
Romanian authorities identified Friday’s drone as a Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicle commonly used by Russian forces, and investigations into the Saturday and Sunday incidents were continuing.
Moldova’s President Voices Support
Reacting to the latest incident, Moldovan President Maia Sandu condemned what she described as Russia’s systematic violation of Romanian airspace, calling it a breach of NATO and EU airspace as well.
She praised the skill and courage of Romania’s air force and said Romania’s security is tied to Moldova’s own.
Officials Call Breaches “Intolerable”
Romanian leaders have escalated their language with each incursion. President Dan called the repeated violations “inadmissible and intolerable,” and Romania’s Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the Russian ambassador over the breaches, while Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan described them as unacceptable.
Defense Minister Radu Miruta said Romania will continue to firmly defend its sovereignty and airspace and insisted the provocations must stop.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen separately praised the Romanian military’s swift and effective response to the first incident, saying strengthening defense along Europe’s eastern border remains a top priority.
Key facts:
- Third suspected Russian drone shot down over Romania in three consecutive days (FridayโSunday)
- Sunday’s drone downed near SulinaโChilia, over Romanian territorial waters
- Friday’s drone confirmed as a Russian Shahed-type UAV; Saturday’s and Sunday’s incidents remain under investigation
- Moldovan President Maia Sandu publicly backed Romania and condemned the airspace violations
- Romania has summoned Russia’s ambassador over the repeated breaches
FAQs:
What happened with the Russian drone over Romania?
Romania shot down a suspected Russian drone on Sunday, the third airspace incursion in three days, using an F-16 fighter jet near its Black Sea coast.
Has NATO responded collectively?
No. Drone incursions have not been classified as attacks on the alliance, so they have not triggered a joint NATO response, though eastern members are investing in anti-drone systems.
Was anyone hurt?
No injuries were reported in the three recent incidents; all drones were downed over unpopulated areas or water.
Why did Moldova’s president comment on this?
Moldova borders both Romania and Ukraine and has said its own security is closely tied to Romania’s, given shared exposure to Russian drone activity near the Danube.
Has this happened before?
Yes. Romania has recorded dozens of airspace breaches since 2022, including a May incident where a drone struck an apartment building and injured two people.
Broader Pattern Along NATO’s Border
Drone incursions from Russia have not so far been treated as attacks on NATO itself, meaning they haven’t triggered a collective alliance response, though the persistent breaches have pushed eastern members to invest quickly in anti-drone defenses.
Romania has added the MEROPS counter-drone system to its defenses, a network that launches low-cost interceptor drones to knock down incoming Shahed-type threats before they reach populated areas.
Drone incursions into Romanian airspace have been detected dozens of times since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, though Romanian forces had not shot one down until this past week.
In May, a Russian drone crashed into an apartment building in the Romanian town of Galati, injuring two people the first time a strike hit a populated area in a NATO country during the war.
Romania’s response to repeated Russian drone incursions along NATO’s eastern border
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