Romania reports Russian drone breach, second NATO state hit after Poland

Finnish, Romanian and British jets fly in formation at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, June 11, 2024.
Reuters

Romania said a Russian drone crossed into its airspace during strikes on Ukraine, marking the second NATO country this week to report such an incursion.

Romania said on Saturday that a Russian drone had violated its airspace during attacks on Ukraine, just days after Poland confirmed shooting down several drones that crossed its borders.

The Romanian defence ministry said two F-16 fighter jets monitoring Russian strikes near Ukraine’s southern border tracked the drone about 20km southwest of Chilia Veche before it vanished from radar. Officials stressed it did not fly over populated areas or pose immediate danger.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the incident was no accident but “an obvious expansion of the war by Russia.” Moscow has yet to comment.

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, condemned the incursion as “yet another unacceptable breach of an EU member state’s sovereignty.”

On Wednesday, Poland reported shooting down at least three Russian drones. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Saturday that Polish and allied aviation had begun “preventative operations” and that air defence systems were at maximum readiness.

Russia’s defence ministry previously denied plans to target facilities in Poland, while Belarus, a close ally of Moscow, claimed the Polish incident was caused by navigation system failures.

In response to rising tensions, the Czech Republic announced Sunday it was sending a special operations helicopter unit to Poland, consisting of three Mi-171S aircraft equipped for combat and troop transport. Defence Minister Jana Cernochova said the move reinforced NATO’s eastern flank.

Zelenskyy reiterated calls for tougher sanctions on Russia, arguing its military “knows exactly where their drones are headed.”

U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier this week he was prepared to impose stricter sanctions on Moscow but only if NATO allies agreed to curb imports of Russian oil.

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