Romanian fighter jets shoot down 2 drones over Black Sea

Romanian F-16 fighter jets engaged and successfully shot down two drones over the country's territorial waters in the Black Sea, according to the Romanian Defense Ministry. The incidents occurred shortly after the drones illegally entered Romanian airspace, Defense Minister Radu Miruta reported on Facebook. The precise origin of the drones remains unknown at this time.

The F-16s intercepted the unmanned aerial vehicles approximately 20 kilometers southeast of Sulina. The first drone breached national airspace at 17:59 (14:59 GMT) and was neutralized within two minutes, while the second drone was brought down at 6:05 p.m., five minutes after crossing Romanian borders. Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu assured that the Black Sea would be secure once more and hinted that NATO would address the matter at an upcoming North Atlantic Council meeting.

This latest drone incursion is part of a growing series of incidents attributed to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. In October, several drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea were reported along the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria, with the most recent attack on Thursday resulting in the disappearance of seven crew members from two chemical tankers anchored near the Sulina Canal.

The canal, a crucial export route for Ukraine, connects the Danube River to the Black Sea. Romania, being an EU and NATO member, shares a 614-kilometer border with Ukraine, a portion of which lies along the Danube. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Romania has repeatedly reported Russian drone incursions into its airspace. The country initiated its drone interception efforts earlier this year.