Russian Ambassador Summoned to Romanian Foreign Ministry Over Drone Incursions

Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Russian ambassador following repeated drone incursions into the country's airspace. This comes after Romanian fighter jets shot down the third drone in the past three days.

Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu echoed President Nicusor Dan's words, stating that Romania's diplomatic protest to the Russian Federation will be based on the results of investigations into the drone intrusions.

"It is unacceptable and intolerable that the Russian Federation continues to violate Romania's airspace, which is simultaneously NATO and European Union airspace. Such actions are unacceptable, and we treat them with the utmost seriousness together with our allies," the statement reads.

Toiu added that in connection with these repeated violations, the Russian ambassador was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Romanian President Nicusor Dan said that a drone was shot down over the country's territory on Sunday – the third such incident in the past three days. Dan also previously reported that an enemy drone had been shot down at approximately 08:30 local time on 25 July, 10 kilometres west of the city of Sfantu Gheorghe.

Romania's Ministry of Defence subsequently specified that this drone had been shot down by the same pilot who had shot down another drone on Friday. Romanian forces used a fighter jet for the first time to shoot down a drone on 24 July after it flew deep into the country's territory.

Senior Romanian military officials reported that the downed drone had been visually identified as a Shahed-type device.