Drones crashed in both Romania and Moldova on Tuesday, prompting Bucharest to deploy four fighter jets following a night of significant Russian air strikes in neighboring Ukraine. The incidents reflect ongoing tensions in the region, where both NATO member Romania and its neighboring country, Moldova, have experienced repeated violations of their airspace characterized by drone fragments falling onto their territories since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In Moldova, local authorities reported that a village was evacuated after drone fragments crashed onto a house in the Cuhurestii de Jos region of the Floresti district, situated near the Ukrainian border. The Moldovan police stated, “The police technical explosives unit is on its way to the scene. People have been evacuated and the area cordoned off,” ensuring safety in the wake of the incident. The country’s defense ministry further revealed that it had detected six unauthorized drones crossing its airspace.
In response to these violations, Moldova’s foreign ministry announced plans to summon the Russian ambassador to address “the serious violation” of its airspace, underlining the strained relations amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, in Romania, officials discovered a crashed drone in the Vaslui region, which lies in the eastern part of the country near its border with Moldova. Romanian Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu indicated that the drone appeared to be a result of losing control or running out of fuel after being airborne for some time, and initial assessments suggested it did not carry any explosive payload.
The Romanian defense ministry confirmed that the first drone had crossed from Vylkove in Ukraine into the Chilia Veche area in Tulcea county. In response, two German Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft were scrambled from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base to monitor the developing situation. Following this, two F-16 planes were also deployed after a second drone incursion was detected in the eastern Galati region.
US General Chris Donahue, who was visiting Romania, highlighted NATO’s efforts to enhance capabilities for countering such drone incursions. “We’re in the final stages… to make sure that this capability can be employed as quickly as possible,” he stated, addressing the pressing need for effective defense measures in the wake of these incidents.
Last week, Romania had already scrambled several fighter jets in response to a drone incursion, showcasing the increasing instability and security concerns in the region as the conflict in Ukraine continues to have widespread implications for neighboring countries.
