Alongside Romania, Poland on Saturday also deployed helicopters and aircraft as Russian drones struck areas close to its border
Romania became the latest NATO member to report a Russian drone incursion into its airspace on Saturday. In response, the country scrambled two F-16 fighter jets to monitor and track the drone during a Russian attack on infrastructure in neighbouring Ukraine.
Romania’s Defence Ministry Ionut Mosteanu said the jets detected the drone over Romanian territory near the village of Chilia Veche and tracked it until it disappeared from radar.
Alongside Romania, Poland on Saturday also deployed helicopters and aircraft as Russian drones struck areas close to its border. Poland raised its air defence alert to the highest level, though the alert was lifted later that day, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk stressing that vigilance remains key.
The latest developments come just days after nearly 20 Russian drones reportedly crossed into Polish airspace between Tuesday and Wednesday. While Russia has denied targeting NATO countries, Poland and its allies have been on high alert.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the drone incursions, warning that Russia was deliberately expanding its drone operations as part of the ongoing conflict.
“Today, Romania scrambled combat aircraft because of a Russian drone in its airspace," Zelenskyy said. “Poland also responded militarily to the threat of Russian attack drones active in Ukraine."
The Ukrainian President called for stronger Western sanctions against Russia and closer defence cooperation, urging leaders not to delay action until further attacks occur.
“Do not wait for dozens of ‘shaheds’ and ballistic missiles before finally making decisions," he Zelenskyy, referring to the Iranian-made Shahed drones Russia is using.
Meanwhile in Washington, US President Donald Trump expressed readiness to impose major sanctions on Russia, but only after all NATO nations agreed to take similar measures and stopped buying Russian oil.
On his social media platform on Saturday, Trump stated, “I am ready to do major Sanctions on Russia when all NATO Nations have agreed, and started, to do the same thing, and when all NATO Nations STOP BUYING OIL FROM RUSSIA."
Romania, which shares a long border with Ukraine, has repeatedly seen fragments of Russian drones fall onto its territory since the conflict began in 2022. Defence Minister Ionut Mosteanu said Romanian jets nearly intercepted the drone as it flew low before it exited the country’s airspace.
(With inputs from agencies)
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