Romanian Foreign Ministry summons Russian ambassador over downed drones
Photo: Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Romania's Foreign Ministry has summoned the Russian ambassador after Romanian fighter jets shot down a third drone in as many days that violated the country's airspace.
Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu said the country's diplomatic protest against Russia would be based on the findings of investigations into the repeated drone incursions.
"It is unacceptable and intolerable for the Russian Federation to continue violating Romania's airspace, which is also the airspace of NATO and the European Union. Such actions are unacceptable, and together with our allies, we treat them with the utmost seriousness," she said.
According to the minister, the Russian ambassador was summoned to the Romanian Foreign Ministry in response to these repeated violations.
Romania shoots down Russian drones
On July 24, at around 11:00 a.m., a Romanian F-16 shot down a drone that had entered the country's airspace. Romanian President Nicușor Dan said the area was unpopulated, allowing the pilot to engage the target without risking civilian lives.
Later, NATO scrambled four fighter jets — two Romanian F-16s and two Italian Eurofighters — after an unidentified drone entered Romanian airspace.
The drone was later confirmed by Romanian prosecutors to be a Russian Shahed.
On the morning of July 25, the Romanian Air Force shot down another drone that violated the country's airspace during a new Russian attack on Ukraine.
Then, on the morning of July 26, an F-16 destroyed a third Russian drone that had crossed into Romanian territory.
