- A Spanish F-18 fighter jet on NATO air policing duty shot down a drone that breached Romanian airspace near the border with Ukraine and Moldova at 5:01 am local time, marking the fourth such incident this year.
- The drone entered Romanian airspace from Moldova and was intercepted by the F-18, which made radar contact and received permission to engage the target.
- Debris from the drone fell in an unpopulated area of the Galati region, near the Ukrainian border.
- Romanian authorities have reported finding drone fragments on its soil several times since 2023 following Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports along the Danube River.
- In July, Romanian F-16 pilots shot down three Russian drones breaching national airspace for the first time after numerous incursions.
- Earlier this year, a Russian drone crashed into an apartment block in Galati, injuring two people during an overnight attack on Ukraine.
- Last month, Romania shot down a drone for the first time since Russia's 2022 invasion, about 100 km from Bucharest.
A Spanish F-18 fighter jet shot down a drone breaching Romanian airspace near Ukraine on Sunday, marking the fourth such incident this year. The drone was intercepted at 5:01 am local time after entering from Moldova, according to Romania's defense ministry.1234
The ministry stated that the drone was detected 24 km (15 miles) north of Galati, a city close to the Ukrainian border. Debris from the drone fell in an unpopulated area, minimizing risks to civilians. This incident underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by NATO states bordering Ukraine, as they deal with the spillover effects of Russia's war.56
Romania has reported multiple drone incursions since the beginning of the year, with authorities finding drone fragments on its soil following Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports along the Danube River. In July, Romanian F-16 pilots shot down three Russian drones, marking a significant escalation in airspace violations since the start of the conflict in 2022. The ministry noted that the F-18 made radar contact with the drone and received permission to engage it before successfully shooting it down.89
“The drone was shot down safely at 05:01 am,” the ministry said in a statement. The incident reflects the heightened vigilance required for NATO air policing missions in the region, as Romania shares a 614-km (382-mile) land border with Ukraine and has seen repeated breaches of its airspace over the past four years.
“The drone entered from Moldova, 24 km north of Galati, and debris fell in an uninhabited area between two villages. Romania has faced repeated Russian drone incursions since 2023, with fragments found after attacks on Ukrainian Danube ports.”
Deccan Chronicle
