Romania shot down a drone in its airspace on Saturday, marking the second consecutive day of such incidents since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This is the second time Romania has taken down a drone since the conflict began. The NATO member, which borders Ukraine, has experienced frequent drone incursions since 2022.
Details of the Incident
The drone was shot down at 8:34 am (0534 GMT) on Saturday, 9.6 kilometers (six miles) west of Sfantu Gheorghe in the Danube Delta, near the border with Ukraine, according to Defence Minister Radu Miruta. The drone had illegally entered Romanian airspace and was detected by Ministry of National Defence radars at 8:22 am.
A Romanian F-16 fighter jet struck the drone a few minutes after detection. This follows the downing of another drone on Friday, approximately 114 kilometers (70 miles) from Bucharest.
Background and Context
Romania has seen numerous drone incursions since the Ukraine war began, including drones crashing on its soil. In May, a drone hit an apartment building, injuring two people and prompting condemnation from NATO and the European Union, which blamed Russia and warned against further incursions.
In 2025, the Romanian parliament adopted a law allowing the country to shoot down drones breaching its airspace. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen commended the Romanian military on Friday, emphasizing the importance of strengthening defence and deterrence along the Eastern border.
