Romania Shoots Down Third Russian Drone; President Calls Breaches 'Intolerable'

Romania's Defense Ministry announced on Sunday that an F-16 fighter pilot had shot down a Russian drone over the Black Sea, marking the third such incident in three days. The downing follows repeated intrusions into the airspace of the NATO member state by Russian drones.

President Nicusor Dan wrote on X on Sunday that the Russian Federation's violations of Romanian airspace—which is also NATO and European Union airspace—are inadmissible and intolerable. He emphasized that such actions are unacceptable and are being treated with the utmost seriousness together with allies.

The Defense Ministry stated that the drone shot down on Sunday fell safely 12 kilometers northeast of the coastal town of Sulina, over territorial waters. The drone brought down on Friday was identified as a Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicle commonly used by Russian forces. Investigations into the drones downed on Saturday and Sunday are ongoing.

Romania's Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the Russian ambassador over the repeated violations. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan called the airspace breaches unacceptable. Defense Minister Radu Miruta wrote on Facebook that Romania will continue to firmly defend its sovereignty and airspace, but these provocations must stop.

Since the start of the war, Russian drones have entered Romanian airspace without permission 33 times, including Sunday's breach. Prosecutors have recovered fragments of the drone shot down on Friday but are still searching for pieces of the other two.

NATO said additional details of Sunday's incident are under investigation. U.S. Army Colonel Martin O'Donnell, spokesperson for NATO's military headquarters, noted that the downings come as NATO, Romania, and other nations actively acquire ground-based interceptors to enhance allied and national air defense capabilities.

On Friday, Romania's army chief of staff said Russian attacks on the region around the Ukrainian port of Odesa had increased ahead of the harvest season, further pressuring crucial energy and trade routes in the Black Sea. Moscow has not yet made any public comment on the incidents.