Romania has become the second NATO country to report a Russian drone in its airspace. Romanian fighter jets detected the drone while monitoring Russian attacks in Ukraine on Saturday.
The Defence Ministry said the drone appeared about 20 km (12.4 miles) southwest of the village of Chilia Veche. It disappeared from radar without flying over populated areas or causing immediate danger.
Ukrainian President Condemns the Incursion
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the drone breach was not an accident. He called it “an obvious expansion of the war by Russia.” Zelensky has repeatedly asked Western countries to impose stricter sanctions on Moscow.
Poland Also Reports Russian Drones
Earlier this week, Poland reported shooting down three Russian drones. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said air defense operations are on high alert. Belarus, an ally of Russia, claimed the drones entered Poland by accident after their navigation systems were jammed.
Global Reactions
Moscow has not commented on the Romanian incident. Former U.S. President Donald Trump said he is ready to impose tougher sanctions on Russia if NATO countries stop buying Russian oil.
Rising Concerns for NATO
Since February 2022, Russia has been attacking Ukraine. While gains on the battlefield are limited, attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure have intensified. The Romanian drone breach highlights NATO’s growing concerns about Russian drone activity and the risk of escalation beyond Ukraine.
