Romania Becomes Second NATO Nation to Identify Russian Drone Incursion

Sun Sep 14 2025 17:25:08 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Romania confirms a Russian drone violation of its airspace amidst ongoing tensions, following Poland's recent drone alerts.

Romania has reported a Russian drone breach in its airspace, making it the second NATO nation to face this challenge in recent days. The drone was detected by Romanian F-16 jets while monitoring the border near Ukraine, coinciding with escalating Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. This incident follows Poland's similar reports of downed Russian drones, highlighting a concerning trend of aerial incursions that both nations are now addressing with heightened military readiness.

Romania says a Russian drone has breached its airspace - the second NATO country to report such an incursion.

Romanian fighter jets were in the air monitoring a Russian attack in Ukraine on Saturday and were able to track the drone near Ukraine's southern border, the defence ministry said in a statement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the incursion could not be a mistake - it was 'an obvious expansion of the war by Russia'. Moscow has not commented on the Romanian claims.

On Wednesday, Poland said it had shot down at least three Russian drones that had entered its airspace.

In its statement, Romania's defence ministry said it detected the Russian drone when two F-16 jets were monitoring the country's border with Ukraine, following 'Russian air attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure on the Danube'.

The drone was detected 20km (12.4 miles) south-west of the village of Chilia Veche, before disappearing from the radar.

However, it did not fly over populated areas or pose imminent danger, the ministry stated.

Poland also responded to concerns over Russian drones on Saturday. 'Preventative operations of aviation - Polish and allied - have begun in our airspace,' Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in a post on X.

Earlier this week, Russia's defence ministry stated there had been 'no plans' to target facilities on Polish soil, while Belarus claimed the drones that entered Polish airspace were due to navigation issues. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic has mobilized military support for Poland in response to these incursions.

This escalating situation underscores the tense atmosphere in Eastern Europe as both NATO countries step up their military readiness amidst increasing threats from Russian forces.