Bucharest, Nov 26 (V7N) — Romania has accused Russia of attempting to create new tensions by repeatedly sending drones into its airspace, Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu said on Tuesday (November 25).

According to a Reuters report, a drone entered Romanian airspace near the Ukrainian border on Tuesday, prompting the Romanian military to attempt to shoot it down. German Eurofighter jets were also dispatched in pursuit. Later, debris from the drone — which contained no explosives — was found inside Romanian territory. NATO warplanes from Romania and Germany were already deployed along the border due to rising regional tensions.

Defense Minister Mosteanu stated that NATO pilots came close to shooting down the drone, which had crossed into the airspace of a NATO member country multiple times. They hesitated, however, due to concerns about potential ground damage.

Earlier in the day, the Romanian minister had visited the Kogalniceanu Air Base, where he held discussions with US troops stationed there.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Romania has recorded 13 drone incursions into its territory. European NATO members have reported growing concern in recent months as such incidents have become more frequent.

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