Romania scrambles F16 jets after Russian drone violates its airspace

A Russian drone violated Romania’s airspace prompting the airforce to send two F16 warplanes towards it, the NATO member reported on Sunday.

A Russian drone violated Romania’s airspace during night-time attacks on neighbouring Ukraine, the NATO member reported on Sunday, urging Moscow to stop what it described as an escalation.
The incident occurred as Russia carried out attacks on “civilian targets and port infrastructure” across the Danube River in Ukraine, Romania’s Ministry of National Defence said.
Romania deployed F-16 warplanes to monitor its airspace, and NATO allies were kept informed, the ministry said. Romanian emergency authorities also issued text alerts to residents of two eastern regions.
Preliminary data indicates there may be an “impact zone” in an uninhabited area near the Romanian village of Periprava, the ministry said. It added that an investigation is underway.
Fragments of a Russian drone were discovered near the town of Plauru, which is situated across the Danube River from Ukraine’s port town of Izmail.
The Romanian Defence Ministry strongly condemned the Russian attacks on Ukraine, calling them “unjustified and in serious contradiction with the norms of international law.”
Mircea Geoana, NATO’s outgoing deputy secretary-general and Romania’s former top diplomat, said the military alliance also condemned Russia’s violation of Romanian airspace.