Romania Shoots Down Third Drone in a Week

A Romanian F-16 fighter jet shot down a drone that had entered the country's airspace over the Black Sea without authorization on Sunday. This was the third such incident in the last three days, the Romanian ministry of defense announced.

According to the ministry, the drone was destroyed approximately 12km northeast of the city of Sulina over Romanian territorial waters. Defense Minister Radu Miruta said the military intervened approximately five minutes after the airspace was violated.

In response, President Nicusor Dan accused Russia of repeatedly violating Romanian airspace, which is also part of NATO and European Union airspace. According to a preliminary investigation, the drone shot down on Friday was an Iranian-made Shahed model, which Russia is using in the war against Ukraine. The investigation into Saturday's and Sunday's incidents is ongoing.

Romania, which shares a border of more than 600km with Ukraine, has recorded several violations of its airspace since the start of the Russian invasion. Last year, parliament passed legislation allowing the military to shoot down drones that threaten the country's security.

(Reuters, sab)