NATO member Romania summons Russian embassy official over discovery of drone parts ‘similar to those used by Putin’s forces’
- Soldiers discovered the drone fragments within Romanian borders
- NATO member Romania initially denied Russian drones fell on its soil
- NATO says it’s aware of the tense situation, calling it ‘destabilising’
NATO member Romania revealed that it has summoned a Russian diplomat after it discovered fragments of a drone ‘similar to those used by the Russian army’ within its borders.
Romanian soldiers found the fragments in the city of Tulcea, which lies on Romania’s border with Ukraine on Saturday.
Romania’s minister of foreign affairs Iulian Fota met with the Russian embassy’s charge d’affaires to transmit ‘Romania’s protest against the violation of the Romanian airspace.’
The Romanian minister ‘firmly asked the Russian side to stop the actions against the Ukrainian population and infrastructure, including those that would threaten in any way the safety and security of the Romanian citizens in the region.’
NATO said it was aware of the situation, with its chief, Jens Stoltenberg, writing in a Tweet that there was ‘no indication of intent to hit NATO, but the strikes are destabilising.’
Drones were seen flying close to Romania’s border with Ukraine earlier this week
Drone fragments were found in the city of Tulcea, which sits on Romania’s border with Ukraine
Romania initially denied reports that a Russian drone had been operating in its airspace
Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, was less forgiving, claiming that discovery of the drone fragments indicated ‘there took place an absolutely unacceptable breach of the Romanian sovereign airspace.’
It comes after Romania denied Ukraine’s claims that Russia had detonated drones over Romanian territory earlier this week.
Ukraine claimed that Russia attacked its port city of Izmail, which sits almost directly across the border from Tulcea, where the drone fragments were found, and that ‘Shakhed’ drones fell and detonated in Romanian territory.
‘This is yet another confirmation that Russia’s missile terror poses a huge threat not only to Ukraine’s security, but also to the security of neighbouring countries, including NATO member state,’ foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said at the time.
But Romania’s defence ministry claimed at the time that Romania had not been hit: ‘The ministry of defence categorically denies information from the public space regarding a so-called overnight situation during which Russian drones would have fallen in Romania’s national territory.
‘At no time did Russia’s means of attack generate direct military threats on Romanian national territory or waters,’ it added.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine last February, NATO and its member states have focused on stopping the war from spilling over onto friendly territory.
Romania, which joined NATO in 2004, has beefed up measures to strengthen monitoring and airspace security following repeated Russian attacks across the border on Danube ports and infrastructure.
Russia has ramped up attacks on Ukraine’s southern Odesa and Mykolaiv regions, home to ports and infrastructure vital for agriculture exports following the collapse of a deal allowing grain shipments from Black Sea ports.
In November 2022, NATO member Poland confirmed that two of its citizens were killed after a Russian-made missile caused a blast in a Polish village.
Fears that this incident would force NATO to join the fight against Russia were raised, with many claiming that this would have led to World War Three.
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