Romanian jet shoots down drone entering country's airspace for third day in a row

A file photo showing Romanian Air Force F-16 military fighter jets escorting a C-27J Spartan aircraft during a NATO Air Policing exercise above eastern Romania, on March 6, 2024. © Andreea Alexandru, AP

A Romanian fighter jet on Sunday shot down the third drone flying into the country's airspace in as many days, the defence minister said. A government investigation reportedly identified the first of the three drones as a Shahed model used by Russia in its war with Ukraine.

Romania on Sunday said it was summoning Russia's ambassador after the NATO member's military shot down the third drone in as many days in the country bordering Ukraine.

Romania has seen frequent drone incursions since Russia launched its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but had not shot down any until Friday.

On Sunday, a Romanian F-16 fighter jet shot down a drone over the Black Sea, five minutes after it entered the country's airspace, Defence Minister Radu Miruta said on Facebook.

Romania is summoning Russia's ambassador following "repeated violations", foreign minister Oana Toiu said on X.

Read moreSea drone explodes in the Romanian port of Constanta, raising fear of Ukraine war spillover

President Nicusor Dan quoted an investigation as saying a drone shot down on Friday was a "Shahed model, used by the Russian Federation in its war of aggression against Ukraine".

Investigations into drones shot down Saturday and Sunday were ongoing, he added.

"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," he said on X.

Martin L. O'Donnell, a senior NATO military spokesperson, also said the drone "appears to be of Russian origin".

He added the shootdowns come as Romania and other NATO countries "actively acquire ground-based interceptors" to beef up their air defence.

Moscow made no immediate public comment on the incidents.

The American Merops drone system, deployed by Poland and Romania to defend Russian drones, is tested in Nowa Deba, Poland, Tuesday, November 18, 2025. © Czarek Sokolowski, AP

Romania has reported dozens of drone incursions during the Ukraine war.

One smashed into an apartment building in Galati on the border with Ukraine in May, wounding two people.

A week later, a Ukrainian naval drone exploded in Romania's Black Sea port of Constanta without causing casualties.

Romania's army chief of staff on Friday said Russian attacks ⁠on the region ​around the Ukrainian port of Odesa had increased ahead of the harvest season, further pressuring crucial energy and trade routes in the Black Sea.

In 2025, the Romanian parliament adopted a law allowing for the shooting down of drones that breach its airspace.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)