A radar track vanished near the Danube delta, raising alarms after one aerial target reportedly entered Romanian airspace during a large scale attack on Ukraine.
Romania officially confirmed the probable intrusion of a Russian drone into its airspace during the missile attack on Ukraine on the night of April 17. The official statement was released by the Romanian Ministry of Defense on Friday.
According to the National Military Command Center, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations advised issuing a warning to the population in the northern part of Tulcea County.
Air defense systems detected two aerial targets in the border zone: one of them entered Romanian airspace, but radar contact with it was lost about 16 km southeast of the commune of Kiliya-Veke, over an uninhabited area.
“The team from the Ministry of National Defense is ready to depart this morning on an exploratory mission in this area. We strongly condemn the actions of the Russian Federation that threaten regional security and constitute a serious violation of international law”
– Romanian Ministry of National Defense
According to the Ukrainian Air Forces, overnight Russia fired an Iskander-M ballistic missile at Ukraine and 172 attack drones. The launches were conducted from Russian regions and the occupied Crimea; 147 drones were neutralized.
The Romanian Ministry of National Defense added that it is coordinating actions with the responsible allies and national authorities and stands ready to take the necessary measures to protect the territory and the population.
Reaction and Next Steps
The incident underscored the heightened tensions in Europe’s airspace amid the Russia-Ukraine confrontation and highlighted the ongoing risk for border countries.
Romanian authorities emphasize the importance of strengthening defense and closer cooperation with allies to ensure the safety of the population and infrastructure.