Russian explosive drones again cross into NATO’s Romania, Ukraine destroys majority during night attack
Russia's Shahed drones breached Romanian airspace during an attack on Ukraine, as Romanian authorities alerted border regions. Ukraine's Air Force reported downing 15/23 Shaheds, 1 of 4 Kh-59 missiles, with two more drones crashing and three missiles missing targets.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that a group of Russian attack drones violated Romanian airspace during a night assault against Ukraine on 8 September. The exact number of drones that breached the airspace of the neighboring NATO member state was not specified by the Ukrainian military. Ukraine reportedly destroyed most of the Russian missiles and drones during the attack and currently, there are no reports about casualties or damage from the attack.
In response to the current incident, Romanian authorities issued RO-Alert messages to residents of Tulcea and Constanța counties on the western Black Sea coast, warning of the risk of objects falling from the airspace due to Russia’s attack on Ukraine near the Romanian border, according to news.ro.
Raed Arafat, head of Romania’s Department for Emergency Situations (DSU), stated that such alert messages are issued when there is considered to be a risk, however small, to allow the population to take protective measures.
The Shahed attack
Ukraine’s Air Force provided details of the attack, reporting that Russian forces launched four Kh-59 guided aircraft missiles from Russia’s Belgorod region and 23 Shahed-type strike UAVs from launch areas in Kursk, Russia, and Chauda, occupied Crimea.
Ukrainian air defenses, including anti-aircraft missile troops, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare units, engaged the incoming threats. As a result of the air battle, the Air Force claimed to have shot down one Kh-59 guided aircraft missile and 15 Shahed-type strike UAVs.
Additionally, the Air Force reported that two Russians drones were “locationally lost,” which they believe probably crashed due to electronic warfare measures. Three Kh-59 missiles also reportedly failed to reach their intended targets due to active countermeasures by Ukraine’s defense forces.
Related:
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- Most in Poland in favor of downing Russian targets violating Polish airspace, new survey finds
- None of 74 Russian UAVs reaches targets in Ukraine as Belarus deploys fighter to down stray Russian drone
