Suspected Russian drone shot down in Romanian airspace

Romania's defense ministry announced on Sunday that an F-18 fighter jet, part of a NATO air policing mission, had shot down a suspected Russian drone that had illegally entered the country's airspace. This marks the fourth such incident in Romania this year. NATO's military headquarters spokesman, US Army Colonel Martin O'Donnell, stated that the alliance remains vigilant and ready to defend itself against any threat.

The details surrounding the incident were still under investigation, but based on radar data, the drone appeared to be Russian. Romania, a NATO member sharing a 614km land border with Ukraine, has reported numerous breaches of its airspace by Russian drones over the past four years. Additionally, mines have been found floating in the Black Sea in key trade and energy routes.

The ministry did not specify the drone's origin, only noting that it was detected entering Romanian airspace from neighboring Moldova, 24km north of the southeastern city of Galati. The F-18 jet communicated with the target and received authorization to engage before successfully downing the drone at 5.01 am. The fragments of the destroyed drone were found in an uninhabited area between two villages.

In July, Romanian F-16 fighter jet pilots had previously shot down three Russian drones violating national airspace for the first time since Russia began its war in Ukraine. In May, a Russian drone crashed into an apartment building in Galati during an overnight attack on neighboring Ukraine, injuring two people.