Romanian fighter pilots have destroyed three Russian drones since Friday, prompting Bucharest to summon Moscow’s ambassador and denounce the repeated breaches of Romanian, NATO and European Union airspace.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Romania shot down a Russian drone over the Black Sea on Sunday, marking the third such interception in three days as the NATO member confronts an escalating series of unauthorized incursions linked to Moscow’s intensified attacks on neighboring Ukraine.
The Romanian Defense Ministry said an F-16 pilot destroyed the drone approximately 12 kilometers northeast of the coastal town of Sulina while it was flying above Romanian territorial waters. Officials said the operation was completed safely and did not endanger populated areas.
The latest interception followed two other shootdowns Friday and Saturday. Before Friday, Romanian forces had not destroyed any of the Russian drones that repeatedly entered the country’s airspace during more than four years of war in Ukraine.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan condemned the incursions Sunday and warned that his government was treating them as a direct threat to the country and its allies.
“It is inadmissible and intolerable for the Russian Federation to continue violating Romania’s airspace, which is, at the same time, NATO airspace and European Union airspace,” Dan wrote on X.
“Such actions are unacceptable, and we treat them with the utmost seriousness, alongside our allies,” he said.
Romania shares approximately 650 kilometers, or 400 miles, of land border with Ukraine. Its proximity to Ukrainian ports along the Danube River has increasingly exposed Romanian territory to Russian drones operating near the frontier.
Russian forces have recently intensified attacks against Ukrainian port infrastructure across the river, increasing the likelihood that drones or debris could cross into Romanian airspace.
The Defense Ministry said Russian drones have entered Romanian airspace without authorization 33 times since the war began, including Sunday’s breach.
Friday’s interception involved a Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicle commonly used by Russian forces, according to Dan. Investigations were continuing to determine the models and origins of the drones shot down Saturday and Sunday.
Romanian prosecutors have recovered fragments from the drone destroyed Friday. Search teams were still attempting to locate debris from the other two aircraft.
Romania’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador in response to what it described as repeated violations of national airspace.
Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan also called the incursions “unacceptable,” while Defense Minister Radu Miruta said Romania would continue using force when necessary to protect its territory.
“Romania will continue to firmly defend its sovereignty and airspace but these provocations must stop,” Miruta wrote on Facebook.
Moscow did not immediately comment publicly on the three incidents.
NATO said the circumstances surrounding Sunday’s interception remained under investigation. The alliance is working with Romania and other member states to expand air-defense capabilities as governments seek additional protection against drones and missiles.
“The shootdowns come as NATO, Romania, and other nations actively acquire ground-based interceptors to enhance allied and national air defense capabilities,” said U.S. Army Col. Martin O’Donnell, spokesman for NATO’s military headquarters.
The repeated incursions represent a change in Romania’s response to Russian drone activity. Although unmanned aircraft had crossed into Romanian airspace on numerous occasions since the invasion began, the country previously relied on monitoring, fighter deployments and investigations rather than direct interception.
That policy shifted Friday when a Romanian pilot brought down a drone in an uninhabited area without causing injuries or property damage. Two additional drones were destroyed over the following 48 hours.
Romania’s military leadership has warned that Russian operations near the Ukrainian port of Odesa are expanding ahead of the regional harvest season.
The country’s army chief of staff said Friday that the intensified attacks are placing additional pressure on Black Sea energy and commercial routes that are essential to regional trade.
Ukraine’s ports along the Black Sea and Danube River serve as major outlets for agricultural exports. Russian strikes against those facilities have threatened shipping, food distribution and energy infrastructure while increasing the risk of military spillover into neighboring NATO territory.
The incidents place additional pressure on NATO to prevent Russia’s war from crossing alliance borders while avoiding actions that could trigger a broader confrontation.
Romanian officials said the drone interceptions were defensive measures carried out within national territory. Bucharest has emphasized that the repeated breaches cannot be treated as isolated accidents as Russian operations continue near the border.
With three Russian drones destroyed in as many days, Romania has signaled that future incursions may be met with immediate military action rather than observation alone.
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