Romania shoots down drone for first time since war began
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Romanian President Nicusor Dan said an F-16 fighter jet shot down a drone near Padina, 110 km northeast of Bucharest, at about 11:00 local time on July 24. It was the first such interception since Russia's war in Ukraine began. The drone's origin was not disclosed.
The Interception
Romanian radars detected the drone in the morning, prompting the scramble of two Italian Eurofighters and two Romanian F-16s, according to the government in Bucharest. The Italian aircraft are deployed in Romania as part of a NATO air-policing mission. The drone was shot down near Padina, a village in the southern part of the country.
Official Response
Foreign Minister Oana Toiu called the interception a "success" and a result of effective cooperation with NATO allies. Investigative teams from various agencies were dispatched to the scene. In late May, a drone struck a residential building near Galati, on the border with Ukraine, injuring two people; Bucharest said that drone was Russian.
Legal Framework
Following the May incident, the Romanian parliament passed a law explicitly authorizing the military to shoot down drones. This is the first time that authority has been used. Drones have repeatedly entered Romanian airspace and even crashed on its territory since the war began, but none had been intercepted before.
What's Next
Investigators are working to determine the drone's origin and purpose. It remains unclear whether this incident will lead to a broader NATO response or further escalation near the border with Ukraine.
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Romania shoots down drone for first time since war began
