Romania has summoned Russia's ambassador after the NATO member's military shot down its third drone in three days, an escalation in a country that had not previously downed such incursions.
Key facts
- Romania is summoning Russia's ambassador following repeated drone incidents.
- Its military has shot down three drones in as many days.
- An F-16 fighter jet intercepted a drone in Romanian airspace over the Black Sea, the defence minister said.
- Romania had experienced frequent drone incursions since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine but had not shot any down until Friday.
Romania said it was summoning Russia’s ambassador after the NATO member’s military shot down its third drone in as many days, according to the Guardian.
The most recent interception was carried out by an F-16 fighter jet, which brought down a drone in Romanian airspace over the Black Sea, the country’s defence minister said.
Romania has experienced frequent drone incursions since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. However, the country had not shot any of them down until Friday, marking a notable shift in its response.
The summoning of Russia’s ambassador signals Bucharest’s intent to formally register its objections following the series of incidents over recent days.
Why it matters
As a NATO member, Romania's decision to shoot down drones and summon Russia's ambassador raises the stakes along the alliance's eastern flank. Repeated airspace incursions near an active war zone carry the risk of wider escalation between Russia and NATO.
Frequently asked questions
How many drones has Romania shot down?
According to the Guardian, Romania has shot down three drones in as many days, having not downed any before Friday.
How was the latest drone intercepted?
The defence minister said an F-16 fighter jet intercepted the drone in Romanian airspace over the Black Sea.
Why is Romania summoning Russia's ambassador?
Romania said it was summoning Russia's ambassador after its military shot down the third drone in as many days.