Romania Escalates Response to Russian Drones, Shoots Down Three Aircraft in a Week

Romanian fighter pilots have destroyed three unmanned aircraft originating from Russian forces over a three-day period beginning Friday, signaling a dramatic change in how Bucharest handles repeated violations of its airspace during the ongoing war in Ukraine. The downings prompted Romania’s government to summon Russia’s ambassador and expel a diplomat on Monday following a formal protest over the intrusions, which have persisted since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

At least 19 drones have penetrated Romanian territory this year alone, with 50 total incidents of drone incursions or recovered fragments documented since the conflict began, according to the Romanian Ministry of National Defense. A May incident proved particularly consequential when a drone crashed into a residential building in the eastern city of Galati, injuring a mother and child, an event that analysts suggest catalyzed the government’s willingness to employ lethal force.

Romania and Poland have both deployed the MEROPS counter-drone system to defend against incursions along NATO’s vulnerable eastern perimeter, with installations added following a surge of violations late last year. Though lawmakers approved legislation authorizing the destruction of stray drones in 2023—a measure opposed by nationalist parties—military officials had refrained from implementing the tactic until this week.

Romanian President Nicusor Dan praised the pilots for their success Sunday, declaring that continued Russian airspace violations “is unacceptable and intolerable.” Military analyst Radu Tudor suggested the May Galati incident functioned as a psychological threshold, prompting a reassessment of NATO’s broader posture toward such provocations.

Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented drone wreckage to Russia’s ambassador, asserting that Moscow “bears exclusive responsibility for all these grave incidents” and expelled one Russian official with a five-day departure deadline. The Russian embassy denied directing any combat drones toward Romanian territory, characterizing the allegations as “completely unfounded” and warning that the diplomat’s expulsion would not “go unanswered.”

Cristian Popovici, head of the Romanian defense ministry’s public relations and a former air defense officer, told The Associated Press that military personnel developed specialized tactics after over 100 drone attacks were recorded near the Ukrainian border. He noted that lessons from the May downing of a drone over Estonian airspace enabled a “100% success rate” across the three recent interceptions.

Despite its more aggressive posture, Romania’s defense establishment maintains it remains neutral in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and is not seeking deeper involvement. Popovici stated that escalation would be Moscow’s decision, adding that such a move would be strategically unwise given current circumstances.