NATO jets scrambled after Russian drone enters Romania
A Russian drone briefly breached Romanian airspace early Saturday, May 2, during a heavy Russian assault on Ukrainian port infrastructure.
The incident occurred near the Chilia branch of the Danube. Romanian authorities issued emergency RO-Alert notifications to residents in northern Tulcea County as explosions were reported across the river.
Military response and monitoring
The Ministry of National Defense detected a group of 20 drones heading toward Ismail, Ukraine. In response, two Romanian F-16 fighter jets scrambled from the 86th Air Base in Fetești at approximately 02:00.
The National Military Command Center coordinated with emergency services to alert the civilian population. Radars monitored the drone's brief evolution within the national territory before it exited toward Ukraine.
Repeated border tensions
The air alert concluded at 02:50. This follows a similar incident on Friday morning when nine drones were tracked near the border, though they remained outside Romanian territory at that time.
Russian strikes have consistently targeted civilian and grain infrastructure in Ismail and Chilia. The Romanian Ministry of Defense continues to monitor the border region in real-time.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
