Romania Acts Amid Rising Tensions Following Drone Incursion – October 2025
In a significant development amidst escalating tensions in Eastern Europe, the Romanian Ministry of National Defence confirmed that it scrambled fighter jets after a drone violated its airspace during a Russian offensive against Ukraine. This strategic response underscores the heightened alertness among Romania’s NATO allies, particularly after Poland engaged Russian drones that entered its own airspace earlier this week.
On Saturday, Romania deployed two F-16s and two Eurofighter jets, part of the ongoing German air policing efforts in the region, to intercept the drone, which was tracked until it vanished from radar near Chilia Veche, a village in Romania. Citizens were advised to take cover as the situation unfolded.
Defence Minister Ionut Mosteanu noted that the F-16 pilots were about to neutralize the drone before it crossed back into Ukraine’s airspace. The area near the border will see helicopter patrols to search for any debris. “All indications suggest that the drone has exited to Ukraine,” Mosteanu reported to Antena 3.
Romania, sharing a lengthy 650-kilometer border with Ukraine, has experienced repeated incidents of Russian drone fragments landing on its territory since the full-scale invasion began. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the drone had intruded approximately 10 kilometers into Romanian airspace and operated undetected for around 50 minutes, asserting that Russia is deliberately expanding the war.
Zelenskyy emphasized the urgent need for increased sanctions against Russia and collective defense measures within NATO. Sweden echoed these sentiments, with Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard condemning the incursion as a flagrant violation of NATO airspace and expressing Sweden’s readiness to bolster the defense of its allies.
In response to these rising tensions, NATO announced plans to enhance the security of Europe’s eastern borders following the Polish interception of hostile drones. Despite Russia’s denial of any intentional targeting of Poland, countries like France, Germany, and Sweden have ramped up their support in defense of Polish airspace.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his concerns regarding the drone incursion but noted that the motives behind it remain murky. He classified the incident as dangerous, calling for thorough investigations and consultations with allies to determine whether the intrusion was indeed intentional.
Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk dismissed any notion that the drone attack was accidental, asserting confidence in the deliberate nature of the breach. Former President Donald Trump weighed in, suggesting he is prepared to impose stringent sanctions on Russia, contingent upon NATO nations aligning with a unified stance and ceasing Russian oil purchases.
As the situation evolves, Romania and its NATO partners remain vigilant, underscoring the critical nature of regional security dynamics in 2025.