Romania says an unmanned aircraft entered its territory during Russia’s latest strikes on Ukraine, an incident that led to NATO jets being deployed. At the same time, Poland activated emergency measures over possible drone threats close to its border.
Romanian Airspace Breach
The Defence Ministry in Bucharest announced that a drone crossed roughly 10 kilometers into Romanian airspace before disappearing from radar near the Danube Delta settlement of Chilia Veche. Officials highlighted that the craft flew at low height and did not endanger towns or villages.
To counter the intrusion, two Romanian F-16s took off, joined by Eurofighters stationed in the country as part of NATO’s air policing mission. Civil alerts were sent to residents in Tulcea County advising them to take shelter until the situation was resolved.
Authorities later confirmed the drone turned back toward Ukraine. No wreckage was recovered, and no casualties or damage were reported.
Conflicting Timelines
President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed the device lingered for nearly 50 minutes inside NATO’s borders, calling it evidence of Moscow’s aggression spilling beyond Ukraine.
Romanian Defence Minister Angel Tîlvăr explained that pilots considered shooting it down but refrained after radar showed the drone heading back into Ukrainian airspace.
Poland Raises Its Guard
Polish officials, facing repeated threats from drones launched near Ukraine’s frontier, took precautionary steps late Friday night. Fighter jets were scrambled, Lublin airport was temporarily shut, and ground-based air defenses were placed on alert.
No violation of Polish airspace was confirmed, but the Defense Ministry stressed the measures were necessary to protect civilian and military infrastructure.
Regional Security Concerns
Both Romania and Poland have previously reported drone debris falling on their soil since Russia intensified strikes on Ukrainian border regions. These incidents have heightened calls within NATO for stronger deterrence and faster response capabilities.
NATO confirmed it had been briefed on the Romanian breach, reiterating that there was no immediate risk to civilians. The event nonetheless illustrates how the war in Ukraine continues to test the security of the alliance’s eastern flank.
