Two British fighter jets were scrambled, and Romanian authorities evacuated more than 200 people from a zone where a drone crashed following Russian strikes in neighboring Ukraine, officials said on Saturday.
Incident Details
Romania, a NATO member, has repeatedly seen its airspace violated and drone fragments fall on its territory since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, President Nicusor Dan stated: "This is the first incident where Romanian property has actually been damaged, a threshold we take very seriously."
Diplomatic Response
Foreign Minister Oana Toiu summoned the Russian ambassador, according to a statement. The incident prompted a swift reaction from Romanian authorities, who cordoned off the area and began an investigation.
UK Involvement
Two British Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets, based at Borcea in Romania, scrambled after the incident. The UK Defence Ministry denied reports that the planes shot down Russian drones, emphasizing that the jets were on a routine NATO air policing mission and responded to the situation.
The evacuation affected over 200 residents from a nearby village as a precautionary measure. No injuries were reported, but the debris caused damage to a local property, marking a significant escalation in the conflict's spillover into NATO territory.
