In a significant escalation of regional tensions, multiple drones crashed on Romanian and Moldovan territory on Tuesday following a night of massive Russian air strikes in neighboring Ukraine. The incidents prompted immediate military responses and diplomatic actions from both Eastern European nations.
Moldova Evacuates Village After Drone Impact
Moldovan authorities reported serious violations of their airspace, with police confirming that drone fragments fell on a house in the Cuhurestii de Jos region of the Floresti district. The area directly adjoins Ukraine's border, making it particularly vulnerable to cross-border incidents.
Local police swiftly evacuated residents from the affected village as a precautionary measure. "The police technical explosives unit is on its way to the scene. People have been evacuated and the area cordoned off," official statements confirmed.
Moldova's defense ministry revealed that six unauthorized drones crossed its airspace during the incident. The repeated violations prompted the Moldovan foreign ministry to announce it would summon the Russian ambassador on Wednesday to address what it termed "the serious violation" of national sovereignty.
Romania's Military Response to Airspace Breaches
Across the border in NATO member Romania, defense minister Ionut Mosteanu confirmed the discovery of a crashed drone in Vaslui county, located in the country's eastern region near the Moldovan border. The minister provided technical assessment of the incident, stating the drone likely crashed due to operational failure.
"Either they lost control of it or it ran out of fuel since it had been flying for some time," Mosteanu told reporters. He added reassuringly that initial assessments indicated the drone carried no explosive payload.
Romania's defense ministry detailed the sequence of events, noting the first drone crossed national airspace from Vylkove in Ukraine to the Chilia Veche area in Tulcea county. The immediate military response involved scrambling two German Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base to monitor the situation.
NATO Strengthens Drone Defense Capabilities
As tensions mounted, two F16 planes were subsequently deployed when a second drone incursion was detected in eastern Galati region. The pattern of violations reflects ongoing security challenges in the Black Sea region since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
US General Chris Donahue, visiting Romania during this critical period, revealed that NATO members are actively enhancing their capabilities to counter drone threats. "We're in the final stages... to make sure that this capability can be employed as quickly as possible," he informed journalists at the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base near the Black Sea coast.
This incident marks the latest in a series of airspace violations affecting both countries. Just last week, Romania scrambled fighter jets over similar drone incursions, while Moldova summoned the Russian ambassador over identical concerns. The recurring nature of these events underscores the ongoing regional instability stemming from the Ukraine conflict and its spillover effects on neighboring nations.
