Russian drone flew into Romania again, fighter jets not deployed in time

Romanian radar systems detected a small flying object, likely a drone, which violated the national airspace up to 6 km inside the country, the Ministry of National Defense of Romania reports.

The ministry stated that the radar first detected the signal at 21:04 GMT on December 26, 15 km east of Chilia Veche commune in Tulcea County.

The authorities alerted the local population to seek shelter and began the procedure for calling in fighter jets, but the radar lost the signal at 21:09 GMT.

“We clarify that although combat aircraft were prepared to intervene within the prescribed timelines, the situation did not require their takeoff,” the statement said.

According to the report, there is no information about a possible targeted strike on Romanian territory.

“The forces and resources of the Combat Air Police Service, both from the Romanian army and those deployed by NATO countries on national territory, continuously monitor Romania’s airspace and its adjacent areas, ready to act at any moment, depending on the situation in the area of responsibility,” the ministry stated.

In October, the radar detected several signals of drones that had entered Romania’s airspace on different days. However, the fighter jets were unable to detect them, and no crash site was identified.

In addition, during the massive Russian attack on December 25, Ukraine informed the Romanian military leadership that at approximately 7:30 a.m., a Russian missile entered Moldova’s airspace. Afterward, it passed over the Romanian city of Darabani “for about two minutes.”

Monitoring groups reported that the Russian missile traveled 140 kilometers over Moldova and Romania.

However, the Ministry of Defense of Romania stated that the country’s air surveillance system, as part of the integrated NATO system, did not detect such a situation.