Romania scrambled two F-16 jets after an attack by Russian drones in Ukraine near the Romanian border.
Two air-raid warnings were sent overnight warning residents near the Ukrainian border of an attack by groups of drones in Ukraine near the Romanian airspace.
The Defense Ministry said Romania’s airspace wasn’t breached but air defense systems were switched to firing positions.
UPDATE – “Last night, for the northern area of Tulcea County, two RO-Alert messages were sent, through which residents were informed about the possibility of falling objects from the airspace, in the context of targets located near the Romanian border with Ukraine,” the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, Tulcea, announced.
The first message was issued at 02:37, followed by one at 05:08 by the system that warns the population nationally, based on the information from authorities in charge of airspace surveillance and security.
“We recommend citizens to carefully follow the content of the messages and to comply with the instructions…. If they notice situations that may endanger their safety, they are asked to call the emergency number 112,” the ISU said.
INITIAL NEWS – “On Wednesday morning, Russian forces repeatedly attacked civilian and infrastructure objectives in Ukraine, close to the Romanian river border…. Following the detection of a group of drones near Romanian airspace…. the National Military Command Center notified the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations to… alert the population in the north of Tulcea County, and a RO-Alert message was being sent at 02:37,” the ministry said.
The institution said two Romanian Air Force F-16 aircraft were scrambled from the 86th Air Base in Feteşti, and anti-aircraft defense systems were switched to firing positions.
“A few hours later, another group of drones was detected heading towards Ismail, and a new RO-Alert message was sent at the time 5.08. No unauthorized penetrations into the national airspace were reported.”
The all-clear was given at 5:42 a.m.
Since Russia’s invasion, Russian drones have repeatedly fallen on the Romanian bank of the Danube and have at times penetrated deeper into the country’s territory.
Air-raid warnings have been issued in border areas along the Danube, and scrambling aircraft later became a routine procedure.Romania and Bulgaria have also faced challenges from drifting naval mines that have occasionally washed up on their shores.
Bucharest has said it holds Russia responsible.
