Romania expels Russian diplomat after three drone strikes in three days

Romania has expelled one of Russia’s diplomats following the downing of three drones within three days, with officials accusing Moscow of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in its military campaign against Ukraine. The decision came after Romanian authorities confirmed that one of the intercepted drones was of Russian origin, prompting diplomatic tensions and heightened security measures. The incidents began on July 24th, when a drone entered Romania’s airspace near the Black Sea coast, approximately 20 kilometers east of Sulina. Romanian radar systems detected the unknown target at around 9:39 local time. The National Air Defense Center immediately alerted relevant services, and residents in the Tulcea and Brăila regions received safety alerts via the RO-Alert system. In response, four fighter jets were deployed to monitor and neutralize the threat: two Italian Eurofighter Typhoons from the Mihail Kogălniceanu airbase and two Romanian F-16s from the 86th Fighter Base in Fetești. At precisely 11:02, one of the Romanian F-16s launched a missile and successfully shot down the drone over an uninhabited area near the town of Pădina in Buzău County. Two more drones were intercepted on consecutive days, July 25th and 26th, though their origins remain under investigation. A high-ranking military official, speaking to French news agency AFP, stated that one of the remaining drones “looks like it could have Russian origins.” This claim aligns with statements made by Romanian President Nicolae Đăn, who accused Russia of employing Shahed-type drones, known to be used extensively in the war against Ukraine, in attacks on Ukrainian territory. These drones, he claimed, had been spotted flying along the same route as those previously intercepted. Romanian authorities have since summoned Russian Ambassador Vladimir Lipayev for talks, informing him of the decision to designate one of his staff members as an undesirable person. The diplomat must leave the country within five days. The government also showed the ambassador the wreckage of the first drone, which was shot down by a Romanian pilot in an F-16 jet on Friday. This marks the third such incident this week, bringing the total number of drones reportedly intercepted over Romanian airspace to more than ten. Earlier this month, a drone crashed into a residential building in Galați, near the border with Ukraine, injuring two people. Romania’s parliament passed a law last year authorizing the shooting down of drones violating national airspace, reflecting growing concerns over the increasing presence of foreign UAVs in the region. In addition to the immediate diplomatic fallout, the Ministry of National Defense announced that it had recorded another unauthorized drone entry into Romanian airspace, although the duration of the intrusion was brief. Officials emphasized that they would release further details once all necessary investigations are completed. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges faced by NATO member states in monitoring and responding to potential threats posed by state-sponsored drone activity.