Romania intercepts third drone in three days, protests to Russia
Romanian forces shot down a drone early Sunday, 26 July, over the country's territorial waters near Sulina–Chilia on the Black Sea coast — the third such interception in three consecutive days. Defence Minister Radu Miruță said the incident confirms that Russia's war on Ukraine keeps generating risks beyond Ukraine's borders.
Romania will continue to defend its sovereignty and airspace firmly, Miruță said, but added that these provocations must stop.
"This is the third drone neutralized in three consecutive days," Miruță wrote. "The drone was picked up by Defence Ministry radar before entering Romanian airspace. It crossed into Romanian territorial waters at 10:08 a.m., and was safely neutralized five minutes later over the Black Sea, within Romanian territorial waters."
President Nicușor Dan praised the Romanian pilots and ground crews involved, crediting their professionalism, courage and efficiency on Facebook. He said their actions help defend national territory and protect Romanian citizens.
According to an investigation by Romania's Prosecutor General's Office, the drone shot down Friday morning was a Shahed-type drone, the model Russia has used throughout its war of aggression against Ukraine. Investigations into the drones downed on 25 and 26 July are ongoing, Dan said.
Romania's diplomatic protest to Russia will be based on the findings of these investigations, the president said. "It is inadmissible and intolerable for the Russian Federation to keep violating Romanian airspace, which is at the same time NATO and EU airspace," Dan said. "Such actions are unacceptable, and we treat them with full seriousness, together with our allies."
Friday, 24 July marked the first time Romania's air force shot down a drone over its own territory, when an F-16 pilot struck a Shahed drone over an uninhabited area near Padina-Pogoanele, in Buzău County.
A second drone was shot down over Romanian airspace on Saturday morning, 25 July, near the town of Sfântu Gheorghe — also intercepted by a Romanian F-16 pilot.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
