F-16 Fighters Scrambled After Russian Drone Crosses Into Romania

Overnight Strikes on Southern Ukraine Trigger Romanian Response

According to Главком: In the early hours of Saturday, May 2, a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle breached Romanian airspace during a wave of attacks on southern Ukraine. Romania responded by scrambling fighter jets and issuing a civilian alert for border areas. According to Romania’s Ministry of National Defense, radar systems detected a cluster of 20 Russian drones heading toward the Ukrainian city of Izmail.

At 2:03 a.m., residents in northern Tulcea County received an emergency notification via the RO-Alert system. Ground-based radars recorded a brief incursion by a drone into Romanian airspace near Chilia. The drone then continued its trajectory toward Izmail. In response, two F-16 fighter jets were launched from the 86th Air Base in Fetești.

The air alert was lifted at 2:50 a.m. Romania’s Defense Ministry noted that in the early hours of Saturday, May 2, Russia resumed strikes on civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine near the river border with Romania.

“A group of twenty drones from the Russian Federation was detected by the radars of the Ministry of National Defense, moving toward the Izmail area.”

Ministry of National Defense of Romania

The ministry added that 'ground radars registered a brief drone intrusion into the country’s airspace near Chilia, with the drone continuing toward Izmail.' Romanian defense officials maintain constant real-time communication with allied structures, keeping them informed of situations arising from these attacks.

Rising Tensions in the Region

Notably, over the past week, Russia has launched approximately 1,600 attack drones, nearly 1,100 guided aerial bombs, and three missiles against Ukraine. These events underscore escalating regional tensions and a growing threat to neighboring countries.

This incident highlights the intensification of Russian military operations and the increased danger for Romania, a NATO member state. The swift response by Romanian forces demonstrates the country’s readiness to defend its airspace and underscores the critical need for coordination among allies amid mounting threats. Given the frequency and scale of these attacks, regional security remains a pressing concern, with potential implications for stability across Europe.

As tensions escalate in the region, this recent incident is not isolated. For further insights into the ongoing challenges faced by Romanian airspace, including another breach by a Russian drone, read more about the details of this nighttime event here.