Romania slams Russia over weekend drone incursions
Romania’s foreign minister said Russian drones likely entered its airspace, while the president called the incursions inadmissible and intolerable, and a Russian diplomat was expelled.
Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu stated that the unmanned aerial vehicles used in Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports in the Odesa region were likely “Shahed-type drones” that crossed into Romanian airspace. The incursions occurred over the weekend during Moscow’s strikes on Black Sea ports near Romania’s southeastern border.
President Nicușor Dan described the repeated violations as “inadmissible and intolerable,” emphasizing that they breached Romania’s sovereignty as well as NATO and EU airspace. He noted that such incursions have become common over the past year as Russia continues its bombardment of Ukraine, which shares a border with Romania, and as President Vladimir Putin tests the resolve of NATO member states.
In response, Romania summoned the Russian ambassador and informed him that a staff member of the Russian Embassy in Bucharest will be declared persona non grata and must leave the country within five days.
