Romania’s military shot down a third unmanned drone in as many days, with a Romanian F-16 fighter jet intercepting the aircraft over the country’s airspace near the Black Sea, according to the country’s defense minister. The incident on Sunday follows similar drone incursions on Friday and Saturday, marking a significant escalation in violations of Romanian airspace.
In response to the incursions, Romania has summoned Russia’s ambassador to the country. A government investigation reportedly identified the first of the three drones as a Shahed model, a type used by Russia in its ongoing war with Ukraine. While Romania has experienced frequent drone incursions since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine began, the NATO member had not shot down any aircraft prior to Friday, making the recent incidents unusual.
The drone violations raise concerns about the potential spillover effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on NATO member states in the region. Romania borders Ukraine and the Black Sea, positioning it at the intersection of the military conflict.
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