On the night of May 2, Romania’s air force was activated in response to a Russian drone that briefly entered its airspace during an attack on Ukraine. The incident occurred as Russia resumed strikes on civilian and infrastructure targets near the Ukrainian border.
The Romanian Ministry of National Defense reported that a formation of twenty Russian drones was detected by radar as it approached the city of Izmail in Ukraine. One of these drones temporarily crossed into Romanian airspace near the village of Chilia before returning toward Ukraine.
According to the ministry, ground radar confirmed the brief incursion, with the drone continuing its trajectory toward Izmail. In response, Romania deployed two F-16 fighter jets from the 86th Air Base in Fetesti. An air alert was also issued in the northern part of Tulcea County, with residents receiving notifications via the RO-Alert system.
The Romanian Ministry of Defense indicated that multiple explosions were heard on the Ukrainian side of the Danube River. The air alert was lifted around 02:50 AM, and the ministry stated that it was providing real-time updates to NATO allies and maintaining continuous communication regarding the situation.
This incident comes amid a broader pattern of intensified Russian attacks on various Ukrainian cities, with Izmail’s port infrastructure reportedly targeted. However, local authorities in Izmail noted that air defense systems were effective, successfully intercepting most of the incoming drones and preventing significant damage.
Romania's air force was activated on May 2 after a Russian drone briefly entered its airspace during attacks on Ukraine. The incident underscores ongoing regional tensions as Romania maintains communication with NATO allies.