F-16s scrambled as drone violates Romanian airspace during Russian attack on Ukraine

This was reported in a press release by the Romanian Ministry of National Defense, according to Ukrinform.

“The Romanian Ministry of Defense's radars detected the presence of drones in the area bordering the country's national airspace, which led to the preventive activation of air defense systems, and at around 5:50 p.m., in accordance with air patrol procedures, two F-16 aircraft deployed at the Fetești airbase were scrambled,” the statement said.

At 6:07 p.m., a Ro-Alert notification was issued to the population in the north of Tulcea County.

“The unmanned aerial vehicle briefly entered national airspace in the area of Sfântu Gheorghe, posing no threat to human life, and left it north of Sulina, flying only over territorial waters,” the Romanian Defense Ministry said.

The alert was lifted at around 6:45 p.m., and no debris from the aircraft was found in the area.

“The Ministry of National Defense strongly condemns the Russian Federation's attacks on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. These actions are a serious violation of international law and a threat to regional security,” the statement said.

As reported by Ukrinform, at the end of last year, a Russian drone without a warhead was found in Romania's Vaslui County, which had flown into the country's airspace during the Russian Federation's attack on Ukraine.

Photo: Ukrainian Air Force