Romania has announced that a drone entered its airspace during Russian attacks on Ukraine, a development that triggered a NATO response. Poland, wary of similar threats, also sent its aircraft into the skies and reinforced defensive systems.
Romanian Defence Response
Officials in Bucharest confirmed that an unmanned aerial vehicle flew approximately 10 kilometers inside Romanian borders before vanishing from radar coverage near Chilia Veche in the Danube Delta. The craft traveled at a low altitude and did not pass over residential zones.
Romania scrambled two F-16 fighters, joined by Eurofighters operating under NATO’s policing mission, to shadow the intrusion. Authorities also issued alerts across Tulcea County, instructing civilians to remain sheltered until the risk had passed.
The drone eventually redirected toward Ukrainian territory. No damage or injuries were recorded.
Competing Narratives on Duration
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed the aircraft stayed within NATO’s airspace for nearly an hour, calling the breach a deliberate act of aggression by Moscow.
Romania’s Defence Minister stated that pilots were prepared to intercept but stood down after tracking showed the device leaving national airspace.
Poland Closes Airport, Scrambles Jets
On the same night, Polish forces launched their own precautions following signs of possible drone activity from Ukraine. Military jets were deployed, Lublin airport was closed temporarily, and air defense systems were placed on heightened alert.
Although authorities later confirmed that no drone crossed Polish territory, Warsaw insisted the extraordinary steps were necessary given repeated threats along its eastern frontier.
Growing Pressure on NATO’s Border States
Both Romania and Poland have previously reported Russian drone debris falling inside their countries, incidents that have heightened anxiety across the alliance.
NATO has been formally updated about Romania’s incursion. Officials emphasized that the episode posed no immediate risk to civilians but acknowledged the mounting security challenges facing members on the edge of the conflict.
