Romania Condemns Russian Drone Incursion
Romania has criticized Moscow for its “irresponsible actions” after a Russian drone entered Romanian airspace, marking the second time a drone has crossed into a NATO country.
On Saturday, Romanian fighter jets were closely monitoring the situation along the border with Ukraine due to recent Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian infrastructure near the Danube, as stated by Romania’s Defense Ministry.
According to the ministry, the Romanian jets “spotted a drone in national airspace, tracking it to about 20 kilometers southwest of Chilia Veche, where it then vanished from radar.” Fortunately, the drone did not fly over populated regions and was not seen as an immediate threat to public safety.
Foreign Minister Oana-Silvia Toiu noted that the drone remained in Romanian airspace for about 50 minutes without causing any damage or injuries, suggesting that initial assessments indicate it returned to Ukraine.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, described the incident as “another unacceptable violation of the sovereignty of an EU member state,” following an earlier event where Russian drones were intercepted over Poland.
The Polish incident led to NATO discussing possible responses under Article 4 of the treaty, which allows member states to meet and consider collective action.
Moscow has tried to minimize the situation, claiming that the drones had veered off course due to navigation interference.
“There were no targets marked on Polish territory,” noted Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s ambassador to the UN.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes Russia intentionally directed the drones into Romanian and Polish airspace.
“The Russian military knows exactly where their drones are headed and how long they can operate in the air,” he argued. “Their routes are always calculated. This cannot be a coincidence.”
Zelenskyy further stated, “It is an obvious expansion of the war by Russia — and this is exactly how they act.” He emphasized the need for decisive sanctions against Russia, urging, “Do not wait for dozens of ‘Shaheds’ before making decisions.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to target Russian energy assets. A recent attack on the Kirishi oil refinery, the only major one in northwest Russia, gained attention for its significance.
