Romania says drone breached its airspace during Russia’s attack on Ukraine
Four fighter jets were scrambled by Romanian authorities on 19 Oct. after detecting an unidentified flying object that penetrated up to 45 kilometers into the country's eastern region.
The Romanian Ministry of Defense reported that a small aerial target, believed to be a drone, entered Romanian airspace early morning of 19 October, prompting a military response.
According to the ministry, the incident occurred amid ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine overnight into 19 October. Russian forces launched a large-scale air assault on multiple oblasts across Ukraine, with over 100 air targets detected, including up to 98 drones and six Kh-59/69 guided missiles.
The defense ministry reported that the Romanian army’s radar surveillance system detected “a small aerial target” approximately 45 kilometers east of the Romanian coast city at around 2:30 am.
According to the ministry, two F-18 aircraft of the Spanish Air Force and two F-16 aircraft of the Romanian Air Force were used in the mission.
At about 4 am, the radar signal allegedly indicated the crossing of Romania’s land border.
The ministry reported that the maximum penetration depth into the national territory was 19 kilometers. However, they noted that “the combat aircraft did not have visual contact with it at any point on the evolution route.”
The surveillance system reportedly lost the radar signal around 4:30 am.
This incident follows a similar occurrence on 17 October, when Romania also scrambled fighter jets in response to a small drone violating its airspace in the southeastern county.
Read also:
- Russia strikes energy facilities as Ukraine repels nighttime drone attack
- Russia launches over 100 air targets across Ukraine overnight, causing civilian casualties
- Drones target major Russian microelectronics plant crucial for military equipment
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