Romanian fighter jets shoot down two drones violating airspace

Romanian fighter jets shot down two drones that violated the country's airspace in separate incidents on Friday and Saturday. The Romanian defense ministry reported that on Saturday morning, radar detected another unauthorized drone penetration near the Ukrainian border, leading two F-16 jets to intercept and down it in an unpopulated area close to the border. This followed the downing of a similar drone on Friday.

Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu identified the drone shot down on Friday as a Shahed-type, commonly used by Russia against Ukraine. Toiu emphasized that the two incursions within a 48-hour period were not accidental but represented a pattern, and stated Romania's response involved consistent detection, interception, and protection of citizens, alongside full transparency with allies. European Council President António Costa commended the Romanian authorities for their swift and effective response to the incidents.