Romania shot down a second drone that violated its airspace in as many days on Saturday, escalating concerns over repeated incursions along NATO's eastern flank as fighting intensifies near Ukraine's border.
President Nicusor Dan said the drone was intercepted at 8:30 a.m. local time, about 10 kilometres (6 miles) west of Sfantu Gheorghe in the Danube Delta.
Romania's Defence Ministry said radar detected the aircraft minutes earlier, prompting the scramble of two F-16 fighter jets before the drone was brought down.
Authorities did not immediately identify the drone's origin. However, prosecutors said the drone shot down on Friday was Russian, marking the first time Romania had destroyed an aircraft violating its airspace after years of repeated incursions.
Border tensions intensify
Romania, which shares a 650-kilometre (400-mile) border with Ukraine, says Russian drones have entered its airspace around 30 times since Moscow began targeting Ukrainian ports along the Danube following its full-scale invasion in 2022.
The incidents have become more frequent as Russia steps up attacks on southern Ukraine, particularly around the strategic port of Odesa.
On Friday, Romanian Army Chief of Staff General Gheorghita Vlad said Russian strikes in the region had intensified ahead of the grain harvest, increasing pressure on critical Black Sea energy and trade routes.
Growing security concerns
The latest interception comes months after a Russian drone crashed into an apartment building in the Romanian city of Galati, injuring two people in what was the first strike to hit a densely populated area of a NATO member during the Ukraine war.
The repeated airspace violations have heightened security concerns for the alliance's southeastern flank as the conflict continues to spill closer to NATO territory.
