A Russian drone entered Romanian airspace during an overnight strike on Ukraine, marking the second time in a week that Russian military activity has breached the skies of a NATO member. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called the incident a deliberate escalation by Moscow, warning of a broader expansion of the war.
Romania — which shares a 400-mile border with Ukraine — responded quickly by scrambling two fighter jets and issuing alerts to residents in the southeast region of the country. Although the drone did not fly over populated areas and no damage or injuries were reported, Romanian officials confirmed the UAV penetrated approximately six miles into its territory and remained in NATO airspace for nearly 50 minutes.
Zelensky, speaking on social media platform X, dismissed any suggestion that the incursion could have been accidental.
“The Russian military knows exactly where their drones are headed and how long they can operate in the air. Their routes are always calculated. This cannot be a coincidence or a mistake,” he stated.
“This is an obvious expansion of the war by Russia — small steps at first, and eventually big losses.”
The incident follows a similar provocation earlier in the week, when Poland was forced to shoot down Russian drones that entered its airspace. Polish officials described the breach as “unprecedented,” with Prime Minister Donald Tusk issuing a stark warning.
“I have no reason to claim we’re on the brink of war, but a line has been crossed,” Tusk said.
“This situation brings us the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two.”
The repeated violations of NATO airspace are fueling concerns that Russia may be testing the resolve of the Western alliance, raising fears that the conflict in Ukraine could spill over into neighboring countries.
