NATO member scrambles fighter jets over aerial threats near Ukraine’s Snake Island
NATO member Romania scrambled fighter jets after detecting aerial threats near Ukraine‘s Snake Island, days after three Russian drones violated Romanian airspace in separate incidents, heightening tensions along the alliance’s eastern border.
Aerial targets near Snake Island
Romania’s Ministry of National Defense said radar systems detected a group of aerial targets about 12 miles northwest of Snake Island, which is also known as Zmiinyi Island.
In response, two Romanian Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon jets operating under NATO command took off from the 86th Air Base in Borcea to monitor the situation.
“The Ministry of National Defense maintains permanent contact with allied structures and continues real-time monitoring of the airspace at Romania’s borders,” the defense ministry said.
According to the ministry, the aerial targets later continued into Ukrainian airspace near Romania’s river border, where explosions were subsequently reported.
The latest incident follows a series of airspace violations, during which Romanian fighter pilots shot down three Russian drones that entered the country’s airspace on consecutive days.
Violating Romania’s airspace
Romanian President Nicusor Dan condemned the incursions in a post on X.
“It is inadmissible and intolerable for the Russian Federation to continue violating Romania’s airspace, which is, at the same time, NATO airspace and European Union airspace,” he said. “Such actions are unacceptable and we treat them with the utmost seriousness, alongside our allies.”
Defense Minister Radu Miruță also denounced the incidents, writing on Facebook, “Romania will continue to firmly defend its sovereignty and airspace but these provocations must stop.”
Dan said the first drone was identified as a Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicle and that investigations into the subsequent drones remain ongoing.
Russia’s defense
In response to the drone incursions, Romania summoned Russia’s ambassador to Bucharest, Vladimir Lipaev, to the foreign ministry to inspect the remains of the intercepted drones. A Russian diplomat was later expelled from the country.
Russia denied responsibility. The Russian embassy in Bucharest warned the expulsion would “not go unanswered” and insisted Russia had never intentionally targeted Romania.
“The diplomat categorically rejected the groundless accusations against Russia, slamming them as another propaganda show meant to prevent further strikes by the Russian armed forces against Ukrainian port infrastructure on the Danube and in the Black Sea, which is actively used by NATO for supplying the Ukrainian army with weapons and equipment via Romania’s territory,” the embassy said, according to Russian state media agency Tass. “No evidence was presented to prove that the drones belonged to Russia. None of the questions regarding the technical flight parameters were answered.”
Romania has reported more than 30 Russian drone incursions into its airspace since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with repeated attacks targeting Ukrainian ports along the Danube River bordering Romania.