Russian Drone Breaches Romanian Airspace, NATO on High Alert

Kyiv: Romania on Sunday claimed that a Russian drone violated its airspace during nighttime strikes on neighboring Ukraine, urging Moscow to cease what it termed an escalation.

According to Romania's Ministry of National Defence, the incident occurred as Russia carried out attacks on “civilian targets and port infrastructure” across the Danube River in Ukraine. 

Romania Deploys F-16, NATO on High Alert

Romania deployed F-16 warplanes to patrol its airspace and kept NATO allies updated, according to the ministry. Additionally, Romanian emergency services sent text alerts to residents in two eastern regions.

Preliminary data suggests a possible “impact zone” in an uninhabited area near the Romanian village of Periprava. The ministry noted that an investigation is currently underway.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Romania has confirmed drone fragments on its territory on several occasions and as recently as July this year.

The Romanian Defence Ministry strongly condemned the Russian attacks on Ukraine, calling them “unjustified and in serious contradiction with the norms of international law.” Mircea Geoana, NATO's outgoing deputy secretary-general and Romania's former top diplomat, said the military alliance also condemned Russia's violation of Romanian airspace. “While we have no information indicating an intentional attack by Russia against Allies, these acts are irresponsible and potentially dangerous,” he wrote on X.

Civilians reported killed in Ukraine In Ukraine, two civilians died and four more suffered wounds in a nighttime Russian airstrike on the northern city of Sumy, the regional military administration reported. Two children were among those wounded, the administration said. In the Kharkiv region farther east, overnight shelling killed two elderly women, according to local Gov. Oleh Syniehubov.

During the night, Ukrainian air defences shot down one of four cruise missiles and 15 of 23 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by Russia, Ukraine's air force reported. It added that none of the cruise missiles had hit targets.

In Ukraine's industrial east, Russian forces continued their montshlong grinding push towards the city of Pokrovsk, and also ramped up attacks near the town of Kurakhove farther south, Ukraine's General Staff said.

Russia's Defence Ministry said its troops had taken Novohrodivka, a small town some 19 kilometres (11 miles) southeast of Pokrovsk. 

(With inputs from Associated Press)