Romania scrambles fighter jets as Russian drones approach border

ATHENS

Romania scrambled fighter jets early Thursday as Russian drones approached its border during overnight attacks on civilian and port infrastructure in southern Ukraine, the country’s Defense Ministry said.

The drone strikes targeted Ukraine’s Vylkove region, near the river border with Romania.

In response, two Romanian Air Force F-16s took off from the 86th Air Base in Borcea and conducted surveillance and airspace protection missions, the ministry said in a statement.

At the time, the military also notified emergency authorities, prompting alert messages for residents in the nearby Romanian border region.

Radar systems did not detect any unauthorized intrusions into Romanian airspace during the incident, the ministry added.

Investigations were launched Thursday in areas potentially affected by the overnight activity. Romania also notified its NATO allies in real time.

The ministry condemned Russia’s actions as “unjustified” and in “grave contradiction” with international law.