Romania downs third drone as tensions with Russia escalate

Romania shot down its third drone in as many days, intercepting it over the Black Sea.

Romanian President Nicușor Dan pointed the finger at Russia, saying an investigation had confirmed that the drone downed on Friday was a Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicle, the kind Russia uses in its war against Ukraine, CE Report quotes STA.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Romania has detected drones in its airspace on several occasions, but its armed forces had not previously shot any of them down. The first interception took place on Friday, followed by another on Saturday near the Ukrainian border. On Sunday, a Romanian F-16 fighter jet intercepted and destroyed a drone over the Black Sea five minutes after it entered Romanian airspace.

The latest interception was announced by Romanian Defense Minister Radu Miruță. President Dan said the investigation into Friday's incident confirmed the drone was a Shahed model, while investigations into the drones shot down on Saturday and Sunday are still ongoing.

"It is unacceptable and intolerable that the Russian Federation continues to violate Romania's airspace, which is also the airspace of NATO and the European Union," the defense minister said.

Romania has reported dozens of drone incursions over its territory since the war in Ukraine began. In May, one drone crashed into a residential building in the city of Galați, near the Ukrainian border, injuring two people.

Last year, the Romanian Parliament passed legislation authorizing the military to shoot down drones that violate the country's airspace.

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