A Russian drone crossed into Romanian airspace during an overnight attack on Ukraine, prompting NATO warplanes to scramble, Romania’s Defense Ministry confirmed on Saturday (September 13).
Officials said two Romanian F-16s and two German Eurofighter jets tracked the drone after it entered the border region, with radar last detecting it near the village of Chilia Veche. Defense Minister Ionut Mostenau revealed that Romanian pilots came close to shooting it down before the drone turned back into Ukrainian airspace. Helicopters have been deployed to search for possible debris.
NATO Airspace Violation
As a NATO member, Romania’s airspace incursion carries significant implications. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed the drone flew about 10 kilometers inside Romania and remained in NATO territory for nearly 50 minutes. He described the incident as part of Russia’s efforts to expand the conflict and urged stronger sanctions, tariffs, and collective defense measures.
Sweden condemned the breach, with Foreign Minister Mariya Malmö Stengergaard calling it “another unacceptable violation of NATO airspace.”
Rising Regional Tensions
The incident follows Poland’s downing of a Russian drone last week, the first time a NATO state has shot down such an aircraft since the start of the war. NATO has since pledged to bolster defenses along Europe’s eastern flank.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the Polish incident as “unacceptable and dangerous,” noting it was unclear whether Moscow had intentionally targeted Polish territory. “If proven deliberate, it would be an extremely provocative act,” he warned.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was more direct, saying: “We wanted it to be a mistake. But it wasn’t. We know it was a deliberate attack.”
Calls for Unified Response
US President Donald Trump reiterated his readiness to impose sweeping sanctions on Moscow, urging all NATO allies to act collectively, including halting purchases of Russian oil.
The latest drone incursion highlights the escalating risks of spillover as the war in Ukraine pushes closer to NATO’s borders.
