Russian UAVs violate Romanian airspace: F-16s scrambled in succession

Around 18:23, a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was detected by radar systems southwest of the Romanian city of Tulcea. The UAV, which put the Romanian Air Force on alert, disappeared from radar shortly thereafter.

F-16S SCRAMBLED IN SUCCESSION

Following the development, two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled in succession from the 86th Air Base in Fetești. The Ministry of Defense announced that the aircraft's mission was solely for airspace surveillance. The jets were tasked with observing the effects of Russian attacks in Ukraine on the Romanian border.

The possibility of the UAV crashing into Romanian territory also prompted local authorities along the border line to take action. Due to security risks, citizens were issued a "shelter-in-place" order. The Ministry of Defense reported that the situation is being monitored in real-time via radar and air patrols.

POLAND AND NATO AIRCRAFT ALSO MOBILIZED

The UAV tension has also affected regional security. Poland deployed its own and NATO fighter jets in areas near the Ukrainian border. Lublin Airport in eastern Poland was temporarily closed to flights for security reasons.

POLAND: NO VIOLATION OCCURRED

The Polish Armed Forces stated that the activity was carried out as a precaution against potential threats rather than in response to an airspace violation. It was emphasized that the protection of civilians living in border regions is a priority. It was also noted that no violation of Polish airspace occurred during the incident.

RUSSIA'S VIOLATION OF POLISH AIRSPACE

These developments come immediately after a similar incident on September 10. At that time, Poland announced that several UAVs had violated its airspace during Russia's attacks on Ukraine and that it had shot some of them down. Moscow, however, maintained that the attacks were directed only at military targets in Ukraine and that Poland was not a target. Following these events, Poland imposed restrictions on air traffic along its borders with Belarus and Ukraine.

NATO'S "EASTERN SENTRY" OPERATION

Following the crash of Russian UAVs on Polish territory, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Aleksus Grinkevich announced that the "Eastern Sentry" operation, aimed at strengthening the alliance's eastern flank, had effectively begun. Many countries, including Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany, will participate in the new defense structure.