Overview

• Romania’s foreign ministry called the drone flight over its territory unacceptable and irresponsible and pressed Moscow to ensure such violations do not recur.
• Russian ambassador Vladimir Lipaïev rejected the protest as unfounded and said the incident appeared to be a deliberate Ukrainian provocation, while questioning the drone’s identification.
• Romania scrambled F‑16s that tracked the craft for about 50 minutes from near Chilia Veche toward the outskirts of Pardina before it exited toward Ukraine, and German jets were poised to assist.
• The incident follows a reported intrusion of 19 presumed Russian drones into Polish airspace days earlier, which prompted heightened alert across NATO’s eastern flank.
• Ukraine’s military reported a separate night of heavy attacks with 84 drones and three missiles launched, saying 59 drones were intercepted and 25 struck 13 locations.