Romania intercepts third consecutive drone incursion, summons Russian ambassador
Defence Minister Radu Miruta confirms rapid interception of Sunday’s breach, while President Nicusor Dan condemns continued violations of NATO airspace following a series of incidents since the start of the Ukraine conflict.
A Romanian F-16 fighter jet intercepted and shot down a drone on Sunday, marking the third consecutive day of airspace violations. Defence Minister Radu Miruta confirmed that the unmanned aerial vehicle was neutralised just five minutes after it entered Romanian airspace over the Black Sea. The incident has prompted Bucharest to summon the Russian ambassador in response to the repeated breaches.
President Nicusor Dan stated that a government investigation had identified the drone shot down on Friday as a Shahed model, a type used by the Russian Federation in its war against Ukraine. While investigations into the models of the drones intercepted on Saturday and Sunday remained ongoing, the President described the continued violations as unacceptable and intolerable, noting that the airspace in question also belongs to NATO and the European Union.
Moscow has made no immediate public comment regarding the series of incursions. The Romanian military’s response aligns with legislation passed by the parliament in 2025, which authorised the shooting down of drones breaching national airspace. This legal framework was established following dozens of reported incursions since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The recent string of events follows a period of heightened tension in the region. In May, a drone crashed into an apartment building in the border city of Galati, injuring two people. A week later, a Ukrainian naval drone exploded in the Black Sea port of Constanta without causing casualties. Romanian army chief of staff has noted that Russian attacks around the Ukrainian port of Odesa have increased ahead of the harvest season, placing additional pressure on vital energy and trade routes.
Romania’s border with Ukraine has become a focal point for spillover effects of the conflict. The rapid response by the Romanian air force on Sunday demonstrates the country’s commitment to enforcing its sovereign airspace under its new legal provisions. As investigations continue into the origin and specific models of the recent drones, the diplomatic friction between Bucharest and Moscow is expected to intensify.
