Romanian F-16s intercept Russian drone in Romanian airspace
Two F-16 fighter jets of the Romanian Air Force intercepted a Russian drone that violated the country’s airspace on Saturday (13), near the border with Ukraine. The incident was confirmed by the Ministry of Defense and reported by the local outlet DIGI24.
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Interception
The aircraft, belonging to the 86th Air Base in Fetesti, took off at 18:05 (local time) after the drone was detected in Romanian airspace. At 18:23, the F-16s identified the target and escorted it to an area about 20 kilometers southwest of Kilia-Veke, where the contact disappeared from the radars.
According to the authorities, the drone did not fly over populated areas and posed no immediate threat to the population. Nevertheless, an air raid alert (RO-Alert) was issued for residents in the northern part of Tulcea County, a border region along the Danube.
Zelenskyy’s statement
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Russian drone penetrated about 10 kilometers into Romanian territory and remained there for approximately 50 minutes. He accused Moscow of acting deliberately:
“Russian soldiers know exactly where they are sending their drones and how long they stay in the air. This is not an accident, mistake, or improvisation. It is a clear expansion of the war, which begins with small steps and ends with great losses,” Zelenskyy declared.
Legal change
In May, a law came into force in Romania authorizing the Armed Forces to shoot down enemy drones and missiles that invade its airspace, even in peacetime. Until then, such actions were only allowed under a state of emergency.
The new legal framework also provides for NATO forces to participate in air defense operations on Romanian territory, in line with the Alliance’s collective defense treaties.
Source and images: DIGI24 | Wikimedia. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
