What We Know: Romania Scrambles F-16s After Russian Drone Breaches NATO Airspace
Romania scrambled two F-16 fighter jets on Saturday after detecting a Russian drone inside its airspace, the latest in a series of incursions pulling NATO directly into the fallout of Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
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| Romania Scrambles F-16s, Via @NTStrike on X |
#BreakingNews Russian drones over Romania, NATO aviation in the sky https://t.co/U89wgbCotj#USAF #Poland #Russia#Russian #Romania #Odessa #Ukraine #NATO #Lubin #Zapad25 #Kaliningrad #Polish #Dutch #Spain #Moscow pic.twitter.com/tiMoHcDV9J
— People's Eye (@eye_peoples) September 13, 2025
Authorities stressed the drone did not fly over populated areas and posed no immediate danger, but shelter-in-place orders were briefly issued in northern border regions amid fears of one-way attack drones straying into Romanian territory.
Specialists are searching for debris to confirm whether the drone was downed.
NOW - Air raid sirens sounding in parts of eastern Poland, RCB alerts sent to phones in Chełm, Chełm County, Krasnystaw County, Łęczna County, Świdnica County, and Włodawa County.
— Alma Gentil (@Chinoy200096633) September 13, 2025
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Romania scrambles warplanes, says a Russian drone violated its airspace — BNO
Authorities in… pic.twitter.com/uqdcsvVJDR
Parliamentary leader Ionuț Moșteanu condemned what he called “Russia’s reckless behavior, which threatens regional stability,” and vowed Romania, together with NATO allies, would defend “every inch of Allied airspace.”
Ukraine’s foreign ministry confirmed the incursion, stating the drone operated in NATO skies “for almost an hour.” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia’s routes are “always calculated” and that the repeated violations are not accidents.
“It is an obvious expansion of the war by Russia – small steps at first, and eventually big losses,” he warned, calling for tougher sanctions, tariffs on Russian trade, and a collective defense system against drones and missiles.
Today, Romania scrambled combat aircraft because of a Russian drone in its airspace. According to current data, the drone penetrated about 10 kilometers into Romanian territory and operated in NATO airspace for around 50 minutes. Also today, Poland responded militarily to the…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 13, 2025
The incident came hours after Poland launched its own “preventive” operation, deploying aircraft and shutting down Lublin airport in response to Russian drone activity near its border. NATO allies including France have already scrambled fighters under Operation Eastern Sentry to reinforce eastern air defenses.
Russian attack drone flew around Romania, a NATO member, for 50 minutes. Two Romanian Air Force F-16 fighter jets just shadowed the drone until it flew into Ukraine.
— Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) September 13, 2025
Speechless. pic.twitter.com/8VkBJG1j3J
Moscow has denied deliberately targeting NATO members, with Belarus suggesting earlier drone flights strayed due to jamming. European officials, however, see a pattern of provocation designed to test the alliance’s resolve.
Each crossing into NATO skies raises the risk of miscalculation—and the possibility that Russia’s drone war could ignite a wider confrontation.