Russia Denies Drone Incursion into Romania, Labels Claim a Ukrainian Provocation

Romania has accused Russia of violating its airspace during strikes on Ukraine, claiming a drone briefly entered its territory before returning. The Romanian Ministry of Defence stated that the incident occurred near the Danube Delta region, prompting fighter jets to be scrambled as a precaution.

In response, Moscow rejected the allegation outright. The Russian Foreign Ministry called the report “baseless,” insisting that Russian drones did not cross into Romania. Instead, Russian officials suggested that Kyiv staged the event as a “deliberate provocation” aimed at straining relations between Moscow and NATO.

Romania’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador to lodge a formal protest, underscoring the seriousness of the airspace breach. Officials stressed that even short-lived violations pose risks to national security and civilian safety.

This is not the first time Romania has raised such concerns. Over the past year, several similar drone incidents have been reported along NATO’s eastern flank, fueling fears of spillover from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. NATO leaders have repeatedly warned that any attack on member states would trigger collective defense obligations, although they have also urged caution to avoid escalation.

For now, the disputed drone incident adds to the growing tensions in the Black Sea region, with both sides trading accusations and little sign of diplomatic de-escalation.