Romania Shoots Down Third Drone in Three Days, Summons Russian Ambassador

Romania has summoned Russia's ambassador after shooting down three drones over three consecutive days, marking a sharp escalation in airspace violations along NATO's eastern flank.

A Romanian aircraft intercepted a drone on Sunday morning after it entered the country's airspace, according to the Ministry of Defence. The incident followed similar interceptions on Friday and Saturday, making it the first time Romania has engaged drones on three straight days.

The downing of an unmanned aircraft by an F-16 fighter jet over the Black Sea on Sunday capped a weekend of repeated incursions. President Nicusor Dan confirmed that an investigation had identified Friday's drone as a Shahed model — the same type used by Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Oana Toiu announced on social media that Bucharest had summoned Russia's ambassador to protest what she described as repeated violations of Romanian airspace.

Growing Strain on NATO's Eastern Border

The persistent entry of Russian drones into Eastern European airspace is widely interpreted as an effort to test NATO and European Union defences. Romania is one of several alliance members that have faced repeated stray drones as Russia and Ukraine launch hundreds of unmanned aircraft daily.

US Army Colonel Martin O'Donnell, a senior NATO military spokesperson, condemned the incursions on social media following Sunday's incident. He stated that 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.

Romania and other countries in the region have experienced frequent drone incursions since Russia launched its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In late May, a drone struck an apartment building in the Romanian city of Galati, injuring two people — the first time such a strike hit a populated area in a NATO country. Last month, a maritime drone exploded at Romania's Constanta port.

The Baltic states have also reported repeated airspace violations in recent months. These incursions contributed to the collapse of Latvia's government in May.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has stated that Moscow's reckless behaviour is a danger to all. US ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker pledged that the alliance will defend every inch of its territory. O'Donnell added that NATO, Romania, and other nations are actively acquiring ground-based interceptors to strengthen allied and national air defence capabilities.

Escalating Aerial Warfare Between Russia and Ukraine

The Romanian interceptions come amid an intensifying campaign of drone and missile strikes between Russia and Ukraine. Overnight on Sunday, ballistic missiles struck Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, killing two people and wounding at least three.

Russia's Defence Ministry, which maintains it does not target civilians, said the attack on Kyiv hit sites connected to drone production.

In Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine, authorities reported that a Ukrainian drone strike killed four civilians in the city of Horlivka. Ivan Prikhodko, the Russian-appointed mayor, said the city came under fire in the early hours of Sunday.

Russia's Defence Ministry also claimed it shot down 133 Ukrainian drones overnight across Russia, the Black Sea, and Crimea.

A Pattern of Provocation

The repeated drone incursions into Romanian and broader NATO airspace reflect a broader pattern since the start of the war. With both Russia and Ukraine deploying hundreds of unmanned aircraft each day, neighbouring countries find themselves increasingly caught in the crossfire.

For Romania, the escalation from stray drones passing through its airspace to direct interceptions marks a significant shift. The Galati apartment strike in May and the Constanta port explosion last month demonstrated the tangible risks these incursions pose to civilian populations and infrastructure.

As NATO members continue to bolster their air defence systems, the question remains whether these measures will be sufficient to deter further violations — or whether the pattern of incursions will continue to test the alliance's collective resolve.

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Source: Al Jazeera English