Nato member Romania says Russia drone violated airspace, Latvia says drone crashed on its territory
Romania deployed warplanes and issued text alerts to some residents, while Latvia says drone incidents are increasing along Nato’s eastern flank
A Russian drone violated Romania’s airspace during nighttime attacks on neighbouring Ukraine, the Nato member reported on Sunday, urging Moscow to stop what it described as an escalation.
The incident occurred as Russia carried out attacks on “civilian targets and port infrastructure” across the Danube River in Ukraine, Romania’s Ministry of National Defence said.
Romania deployed F-16 warplanes to monitor its airspace, and Nato allies were kept informed, the ministry said. Romanian emergency authorities also issued text alerts to residents of two eastern regions.
Preliminary data indicates there may be an “impact zone” in an uninhabited area near the Romanian village of Periprava, the ministry said. It added that an investigation is under way.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Romania has confirmed drone fragments on its territory on several occasions and as recently as July this year.
The Romanian Defence Ministry strongly condemned the Russian attacks on Ukraine, calling them “unjustified and in serious contradiction with the norms of international law”.
