EU Condemns Russian Drone Violation of Romanian Airspace

European Union leaders have condemned Russia following a drone's breach of Romanian airspace during an attack on southern Ukraine, marking the second violation of EU territory in less than a week. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Russia's incursion into Romanian airspace is a blatant violation of EU sovereignty and a serious threat to regional security. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the incursion as another unacceptable breach of an EU Member State's sovereignty, emphasizing that such reckless escalation threatens regional security.

The incident occurred on Saturday when two Romanian F-16 fighter jets detected a Russian drone over Romanian territory during a scouting exercise monitoring Russian airstrikes across the border in Ukraine. Romania's defense ministry reported no damage or injuries resulting from the incursion. Romanian Foreign Minister Oana-Silvia Țoiu condemned the breach as unacceptable and reckless, affirming that Romania will take all necessary steps to protect its sovereignty and security.

This event follows a similar incident earlier in the week, where NATO forces intercepted 19 Russian drones that entered Polish airspace. In response to these violations, NATO launched Operation Eastern Sentry on September 12, 2025, to bolster the defense of Europe's eastern flank. The operation involves military forces from Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and other nations, aiming to enhance NATO's capacity to counter military threats posed by Russia, particularly intercepting drones violating NATO member states' airspace.