Spanish F-18 jets shoot down suspected Russian drone over Romania

BUCHAREST — Spanish F-18 fighter jets deployed on a NATO air defense mission shot down a suspected Russian drone after it entered Romanian airspace early Sunday, Romanian authorities said.Romania’s Defense Ministry said surveillance systems detected the aerial target at 4:44 a.m. local time, approximately 24 kilometers north of the southeastern city of Galati.The drone entered Romanian airspace from the direction of neighboring Moldova, the ministry said.Two Spanish F-18 fighter jets, which had been deployed preventively from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, established radar contact with the target and were authorized to engage.The drone was shot down at 5:01 a.m. over an unpopulated area. The operation was coordinated through NATO’s Combined Air Operations Center in Torrejon, Spain.Authorities identified a possible debris impact site between Baleni and Cudalbi in Galati County and deployed helicopters to search for the wreckage.No casualties or property damage were immediately reported.NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe said the drone’s origin remained under investigation but preliminary indications suggested it was Russian.“Further details of Sunday’s incident remain under investigation, but the drone appears to be Russian,” spokesperson Col. Martin O’Donnell said.Romania’s acting Foreign Minister Oana Toiu said NATO allies had been informed of the incident.“Romania is on the front line of NATO and European Union border defense. We have informed our allies and will continue to build a strong defense and deterrent force on the eastern flank,” Toiu said.She said it was the third drone to illegally enter Romanian airspace and be shot down in the past three weeks.Romanian presidential adviser Marius Lazurca thanked Spain for its role in the operation.“Our full gratitude to Spain for participating in NATO Air Policing!” he said.Romania shares a 614-kilometer border with Ukraine and has experienced repeated airspace violations during Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports along the Danube River.