On Saturday morning, Russian drone strikes on Ukraine caused debris to fall in Romania, damaging a farm building and an electricity pole near the town of Galaţi.
The Romanian Ministry of Defence reported that around 2:00 a.m., two Eurofighter Typhoon jets from the UK were scrambled after radar detected drones flying near Romanian airspace. The aircraft made radar contact with a target 1.5 km from the Ukrainian town of Reni.
After 2:30 a.m., local residents reported an unknown object falling in the Galaţi area via emergency services. Preliminary assessments confirmed damage to a farm structure and a power pole, with drone fragments found at multiple locations secured by Romanian police and military personnel. No casualties were reported.
Romania accuses Russia of endangering NATO security
The Romanian Defence Ministry condemned the incident as a reckless act by Russia that threatens regional stability and violates international law. It stated such events demonstrate Russia’s disregard for global norms and endanger both Romanian citizens and collective NATO security.
For more on this story, see Poland scrambles fighter jets to defend airspace after Russian missile attack on Ukraine.
The ministry emphasized Romania’s commitment to its NATO obligations, pledging continued coordination with allies to monitor and defend its airspace. It noted that while Romanian law permits shooting down drones endangering life or property in peacetime, this measure had not been used prior to Saturday’s incident.
Pattern of drone incursions into NATO airspace
Reuters noted that although drone debris frequently enters Romanian territory during Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports across the Danube, Saturday marked the first time such incidents caused property damage in the country. Romania shares a 650-kilometre land border with Ukraine.
This follows similar incursions earlier in September 2025, when Romania reported a Russian drone violating its airspace during another wave of attacks on Ukraine, prompting Bucharest to summon the Russian ambassador. At that time, no damage was reported.
What type of drone was involved in the incident?
The source does not specify the exact model of the drone that caused the damage in Romania.
Did Romania accept any defensive action against the drone?
Romania scrambled two British Eurofighter Typhoon jets to monitor the drones near its airspace, but the source does not state that any aircraft engaged or shot down the drone before it caused damage.