Romania has reported that an unmanned aerial vehicle crossed into its airspace during Russian attacks on Ukraine, prompting NATO to deploy fighter jets. In parallel, Poland increased its readiness and scrambled aircraft in response to potential threats near its border.
Drone Intrusion in Southeastern Romania
The Defence Ministry of Romania stated that radar detected the drone about 10 kilometers inside the country before losing contact near Chilia Veche, a village in the Danube Delta. The craft flew at low altitude, avoiding residential areas.
Romania dispatched two F-16 fighter jets to track the drone, supported by NATO Eurofighters stationed in the country. Authorities issued safety alerts to residents in Tulcea County, instructing them to stay indoors until the threat passed.
The drone reportedly returned toward Ukraine without causing damage or casualties.
Conflicting Timelines
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed the drone remained inside NATO airspace for almost fifty minutes, presenting the incursion as a deliberate move by Moscow to escalate the conflict.
Romania’s Defence Minister said pilots were prepared to intercept but refrained when monitoring confirmed the drone was leaving national airspace.
Poland Reacts to Possible Drone Threats
Polish authorities also responded late Friday after detecting potential drone activity near the eastern border. Fighter jets were scrambled, Lublin airport was temporarily closed, and air defense units were placed on high alert.
No drones were confirmed to have entered Polish airspace, but officials described the precautionary measures as necessary due to repeated incursions in the region.
NATO’s Eastern Front Under Strain
Romania and Poland have previously discovered fragments from Russian drones on their territory, raising concerns about the potential spillover of the conflict into NATO countries.
NATO confirmed it was briefed on the Romanian incursion, emphasizing that civilians were not endangered. Nevertheless, the episode highlights the ongoing security pressures on member states along the alliance’s eastern flank.
