Estonia, Romania report drone incursions amid Russian and Ukrainian aerial attacks

Estonia and Romania, both NATO members, reported separate drone incursions on September 1. The incidents occurred as Russia launched a significant aerial assault on Ukraine, and Ukrainian drones targeted western Russia.

Estonian Air Force Commander Brigadier General Riivo Valge stated that around a dozen drones were detected near Estonia's border. One drone briefly entered Estonian airspace in the southeast, prompting the activation of ground-based air defense units and public warnings. Turkish fighter jets stationed in Estonia as part of NATO's air policing mission were also scrambled. The drone eventually returned to Russian airspace. Approximately 30 minutes later, another drone entered southeastern Estonia. These incursions happened while drones were targeting Russia's Leningrad Oblast, reportedly damaging the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga. Russian air defenses claimed to have intercepted 38 drones in the region. No casualties or damage were reported in Estonia, and the fighter jets did not engage.

Separately, in Romania, a damaged drone was discovered in a field near the village of Viisoara, approximately 30 kilometers from the Moldovan border. Specialists from the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) determined the drone was equipped with explosives and conducted a controlled detonation. No casualties or property damage were reported in this incident. The drone's origin remains unclear. Romania borders Ukraine's Odesa Oblast, which was a primary target of Russia's overnight attacks, resulting in damage to infrastructure and one injury.

This is not the first time Russian drones or their debris have landed in Romania during attacks on Ukraine, nor the first time neighboring Moldova has experienced incursions. NATO allies have previously intercepted drones over Poland and Estonia.