IRIA News

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Romania summoned Russia’s ambassador after its military shot down a third suspected Russian drone in three days, marking the latest escalation in a series of airspace violations along NATO’s eastern frontier.

The latest incident occurred on July 26, 2026, when a Romanian Air Force F-16 fighter jet intercepted and destroyed a drone over the Black Sea just five minutes after it entered Romanian airspace. The aircraft had scrambled from Fetesti Air Base under NATO operational command.

The repeated incursions have heightened concerns among NATO allies as Russia continues to intensify drone attacks against southern Ukraine, particularly around the strategic Black Sea port of Odesa, located near Romania’s border.

Romania Condemns Airspace Violations

Romanian President Nicusor Dan condemned the latest incidents, describing them as “inadmissible and intolerable” violations of both Romanian sovereignty and NATO territory.

“It is unacceptable and intolerable for the Russian Federation to continue violating Romania’s airspace, which is also the airspace of NATO and the European Union,” Dan said, adding that Romania was treating the incidents “with the utmost seriousness” alongside its allies.

Romania’s Foreign Ministry announced it would summon Russia’s ambassador in Bucharest over what Foreign Minister Oana Toiu called the country’s “repeated violations” of Romanian airspace.

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan also described the incursions as “unacceptable,” while Defense Minister Radu Miruta said Romania would continue defending its sovereignty and airspace.

“Romania will continue to firmly defend its sovereignty and airspace, but these provocations must stop,” Miruta said. Moscow had not publicly commented on the incidents at the time of reporting.

Romania Intercepted Three Drones in Three Days

Sunday’s interception marked the third consecutive day that Romania’s military had destroyed a drone violating its airspace. According to Romania’s Defense Ministry, the latest drone was shot down approximately 12 kilometers northeast of the coastal town of Sulina over Romanian territorial waters in the Black Sea.

President Dan said investigators had confirmed that the drone destroyed on Friday was a Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicle used by Russian forces in the war against Ukraine. Investigations into the drones shot down on Saturday and Sunday remain ongoing.

Romanian authorities have recovered debris from Friday’s drone, while search operations continue to locate fragments from the other two aircraft.

The Defense Ministry said Russian drones have entered Romanian airspace 33 times since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Romania had previously tracked numerous incursions but had not shot down any drones until Friday. The three interceptions over the weekend therefore represent a significant shift in the country’s response.

NATO Strengthens Eastern Air Defenses

NATO officials said the incidents underscore the need for stronger air defense capabilities along the alliance’s eastern flank. Colonel Martin O’Donnell, a spokesperson for NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), said Sunday’s drone also appeared to be of Russian origin.

“The shootdowns come as NATO, Romania, and other nations actively acquire ground-based interceptors to enhance allied and national air defense capabilities,” O’Donnell said. He added that the alliance remains vigilant against potential threats.

“As we continue to prove, NATO is constantly on the watch and prepared to defend itself from any threat.” Romanian F-16 aircraft involved in the interception were operating under NATO’s integrated air policing mission.

The alliance also noted that Romania has participated in broader NATO air defense operations, including previous drone interceptions conducted while Romanian aircraft were deployed to protect allied airspace in the Baltic region.

Counter-Drone Capabilities Expanded

Romania has significantly strengthened its defenses against unmanned aerial threats over the past year. At the end of June, the country integrated the U.S.-made MEROPS counter-drone system into its national air defense network.

The mobile, AI-assisted system is designed to intercept small, low-flying drones, including Shahed-type loitering munitions, using relatively inexpensive interceptor drones.

The acquisition forms part of a broader NATO effort to reinforce defenses along its eastern border as drone warfare becomes increasingly common in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Military officials have also highlighted increased Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure near the Danube River, particularly around Odesa, placing additional pressure on critical Black Sea shipping lanes, energy infrastructure, and regional trade routes.

Growing Security Concerns Along Romania’s Border

Romania shares a 650-kilometer border with Ukraine and has experienced repeated drone incursions since the start of the war.

The incidents have become more frequent as Russian forces intensify attacks on Ukrainian ports along the Danube River, located directly across from Romanian territory.

Earlier this year, in May, a Russian drone involved in an attack on Ukraine veered off course and struck an apartment building in the Romanian city of Galati, injuring two civilians. The incident heightened concerns that the conflict could spill further into NATO territory.

Romania’s parliament responded to the growing threat by passing legislation in 2025 authorizing the military to shoot down drones that illegally enter the country’s airspace when they pose a threat to lives or property.

The law allows the destruction of unauthorized drones as a measure of last resort after other interception procedures have been exhausted.

Regional Implications

The latest incidents reflect the increasing security challenges facing NATO members bordering Ukraine as the war enters its fifth year.

Repeated drone incursions into Romanian airspace have raised concerns about the risk of unintended escalation, even as NATO has stressed that it remains prepared to defend every inch of allied territory.

Romania’s continued investment in modern counter-drone systems, combined with closer coordination with NATO air policing missions, demonstrates the alliance’s broader effort to strengthen defenses against the growing use of unmanned aerial systems in modern warfare.

The investigation into the drones shot down over the weekend is continuing, while Romanian authorities and NATO officials remain on heightened alert amid ongoing Russian attacks near Ukraine’s southwestern border.