Romania's Defense Ministry Confirms NATO Jet Downed Drone Entering Its Airspace

Romania's defense ministry announced on Sunday that a NATO fighter jet, specifically an F-18 jet deployed on NATO duties, shot down a drone that had entered the country's airspace near the border with Ukraine and Moldova. The drone, which originated from Moldova, was intercepted early Sunday morning, with debris falling in an unpopulated area near the border with Ukraine.

Romania's Defense Ministry Confirms NATO Jet Downed Drone Entering Its Airspace

This incident marks the latest in a series of recurring incidents involving drones straying into the borders of Ukraine's neighboring countries, which authorities have attributed to electronic interference as part of the ongoing war with Russia. In some cases, the drones are Ukrainian and are allegedly "hijacked" by Russian forces.

Romania has reported finding drone fragments on its soil several times since 2023, following Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports along the Danube River, which lie just across the border. Last week, Ukraine denied targeting Bulgaria after a drone entered the country's airspace on Saturday and exploded near an international gas pipeline shortly after crossing the border from Romania.

In June, Latvia's military stated that two NATO fighter jets shot down a drone that entered the country's airspace. Ukrainian drones have previously crashed in all three Baltic states, which share borders with Russia, with officials blaming the inadvertent incursions on Russian electronic warfare.