For the second time in less than 24 hours, Romanian authorities have successfully intercepted and shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle within the nation's airspace. President Nicușor Dan confirmed that an F-16 fighter jet neutralized the target at approximately 8:30 am on Saturday. The intercept occurred roughly 10 kilometers west of the village of Sfântu Gheorghe, located in the eastern region of the country.
According to the Romanian Defence Ministry, radar systems initially detected a drone operating near the Ukrainian border. In response, two F-16 jets were scrambled to identify the aircraft, which was ultimately destroyed in an unpopulated area. Defence Minister Radu Miruta stated that an investigation is currently underway, noting that the wreckage is being analyzed and that the flight pattern is consistent with previous incursions by Russian drones. The Prosecutor General's Office has confirmed that the intercepted vehicle was a Shahed-type drone, which is frequently utilized by Russian forces.
This Saturday incident followed a similar operation on Friday, when an F-16 fighter jet deployed from the Fetești air base engaged another drone around 11 am. During that mission, two Italian Eurofighter Typhoon jets based at Mihail Kogălniceanu were also dispatched to assist in identifying the threat. The Ministry reported that the drone was tracked over the Black Sea before moving toward the town of Sulina and then Buzău, eventually being shot down near Padina, an unpopulated area northeast of Bucharest.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the Romanian military for its swift response to the incursions, emphasizing that strengthening defense and deterrence along the Eastern border remains a top priority. She reiterated her stance that these incidents are a direct consequence of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Romania has experienced a notable surge in such airspace violations recently. Previous incidents include a May crash in Galați where a Russian drone carrying explosives damaged an apartment roof and injured two civilians, as well as a June event in the port of Constanta where a Ukrainian sea drone exploded after being knocked off course by Russian electronic warfare interference.
