Russian attack puts three countries on alert as drones enter Moldova and Romania

On 24 September, Russia launched a series of drone attacks on Ukraine, prompting a chain reaction of military responses from neighboring countries. Moldova's Defense Ministry reported four drone incursions into its airspace, while Romania's Defense Ministry confirmed a drone crash near Solca. Poland's Operational Command scrambled fighters twice during the Russian attack, activating air defenses and radar systems.

Moldova temporarily closed part of its northern airspace following the Russian incursions, with authorities detecting dozens of similar attacks this year. The drones approached from Ukraine's Vinnytsia, Odesa, and Chernivtsi oblasts. One drone struck a tree in northern Moldova, exploded, and fell into a field, leaving no casualties. Police identified the camera-equipped wreckage as a Gerbera, a low-cost Russian drone commonly used in attacks on Ukraine.

Romanian radar first detected the aerial target over Ukraine near the border before it entered Romanian airspace. Romanian F-16 fighter jets were deployed to track and engage the drone, which crashed after approximately four minutes in Romanian airspace. No casualties or damage were reported, and the drone's origin remained unidentified.

Poland's Operational Command launched fighters twice in response to the Russian strikes on western Ukraine. The first deployment ended without violating airspace, but a second deployment occurred at 09:07, along with the activation of ground-based air defenses and radar systems. No airspace violations were detected during the first deployment, and no incidents were reported during the second.

The incursions came amid a wider assault, with Ukraine's Air Force reporting that Russia launched 282 drones of various types into Ukrainian airspace overnight into 24 September, including ballistic and other missiles. Ukrainian officials claimed to have shot down three of the drones while they were over Chernivtsi Oblast, the Ukrainian region bordering Moldova and Romania.