رومانيا تسقط طائرة مسيرة روسية for the first time after violating its airspace

A Romanian F-16 shoots down the drone over Buzau

Romania shot down for the first time a drone that had penetrated its airspace without authorization, in an operation carried out by a Romanian Air Force F-16 fighter. The interception took place over an uninhabited area near the town of Padina, in Buzau County. Romanian President Nicusor Dan confirmed the military intervention and emphasized that the incident activated national and NATO security protocols.

After the incursion was detected, authorities ordered the scramble of several F-16s and NATO aircraft to monitor the situation, and emergency alerts were sent via the RO-Alert system to the population in the affected areas. The Romanian Ministry of Defense reported that debris from the drone and the interceptor missile was recovered in Buzau and Braila counties for analysis.

An Iranian-made Shahed drone

Hours later, the Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the destroyed aircraft was a Shahed drone, manufactured in Iran and commonly used by Russia in its attacks against Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated the Romanian military and stressed the importance of protecting the external borders of the European Union and NATO.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the incursion and stated that it reflects “the Kremlin’s disregard for international law.” Days later, Romania shot down a third drone over its airspace and summoned the Russian ambassador, calling the incident “inadmissible and intolerable.”

The episode adds to a series of Russian drone incursions into the airspace of NATO member countries recorded in recent weeks, which has raised tensions on the Alliance’s eastern flank and reignited the debate over the need to strengthen surveillance and air defense capabilities in the region.