Romanian F-16 pilots shot down three Russian drones that entered the country's airspace over a single weekend.
Key facts
- •Three Russian drones were shot down by Romanian F-16 pilots over the course of one weekend.
- •Romania has experienced over 80 drone incursions since 2022.
- •A drone strike in Galați in May resulted in injuries to a mother and her child.
- •Bucharest expelled the Russian ambassador following the weekend drone interceptions.
- •Romanian pilots previously shot down a drone during an air-policing mission in the Baltics.
Romanian F-16 pilots intercepted and destroyed three Russian drones that entered Romanian airspace over the course of a single weekend. The ministry of national defence confirmed the actions, noting that the incursions occurred on consecutive days. Following these events, the Romanian government expelled the Russian ambassador to the country.
History of Airspace Incursions
Romania has recorded more than 80 drone incursions into its airspace since the start of the full-scale Russian war in Ukraine in 2022. These incidents now occur nearly every week. In May, a drone struck a residential building in Galați, injuring a mother and her child, which marked the first European casualties of the war outside of Ukraine.
Military Response and Strategy
Following public pressure after the May incident, Romanian military authorities advised pilots to engage intruding aircraft when possible. While the recent interceptions were successful, defence analysts noted the high cost of the operation, as the rockets used to down the drones are valued at approximately half a million euros each.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by EUobserver.
