Romania: F-16 Destroys Third Drone in Three Days, President Condemns Airspace Violation

A Romanian Air Force F-16 fighter jet has neutralized a Russian drone over the Black Sea, in the third incident of its kind recorded within three days.

Romania’s Ministry of Defense announced that the drone was safely shot down over the country’s territorial waters, around 12 kilometers northeast of the coastal city of Sulina. According to the authorities, the incident posed no risk to the public.

Romanian President Nicușor Dan told Reuters that the repeated violations were “unacceptable and intolerable,” as Romania’s airspace is also part of NATO and European Union airspace.

Dan stressed that the Russian Federation cannot be allowed to continue violating Romanian airspace. He added that these actions are being treated with the utmost seriousness and in coordination with the country’s allies.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Romania, which shares a 650-kilometer land border with the country, has repeatedly faced unauthorized incursions by Russian drones. The escalation of Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports along the Danube River has recently led to even more incidents near the Romanian border.

Until Friday, Romanian authorities had not shot down any of the drones that had entered the country’s airspace. That day, a Romanian pilot managed to destroy a drone over an uninhabited area, while the incidents on Saturday and Sunday brought the number of downed aircraft to three.

According to President Nicușor Dan, the drone neutralized on Friday was a Shahed model, which is widely used by Russian forces. Investigations to identify the other two drones are continuing.

NATO announced that the circumstances surrounding Sunday’s incident remain under investigation. The spokesperson for the Alliance’s military command, U.S. Colonel Martin O’Donnell, said the incidents were taking place at a time when NATO, Romania and other countries were investing in new ground-based air defense systems aimed at strengthening the alliance’s security.

In response to the repeated airspace violations, the Romanian Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador in Bucharest and demanded an explanation. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan also described the incidents as “unacceptable.”

Romanian Defense Minister Radu Miruță said Romania would continue to resolutely defend its sovereignty and airspace. He also stressed that such provocations must stop.

Defense Ministry data show that Russian drones have entered Romanian airspace without authorization 33 times since the start of the war in Ukraine. Prosecutors have located the wreckage of the drone shot down on Friday, while operations to find parts of the other two aircraft are continuing.

Romanian military officials have warned that Russia has intensified its strikes in the Odesa region of southern Ukraine ahead of the harvest season. According to them, these attacks are increasing pressure on strategic energy and trade corridors in the Black Sea.