Kyiv: Romania said Sunday that a Russian drone violated its airspace during overnight attacks on neighbouring Ukraine, urging Moscow to stop what it called an escalation.
According to Romania’s Ministry of National Defense, the incident occurred as Russia was carrying out attacks against “civilian targets and port infrastructure” across the Danube River in Ukraine.
Romania deploys F-16s and NATO on high alert
According to the ministry, Romania deployed F-16 warplanes to patrol its airspace and kept NATO allies informed. In addition, Romanian emergency services sent text alerts to residents in two eastern regions.
Preliminary data suggest a possible “impact zone” in an uninhabited area near the Romanian town of Periprava. The ministry said an investigation is currently underway.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Romania has confirmed drone fragments on its territory on several occasions and as recently as July this year.
Romania’s Defense Ministry strongly condemned the Russian strikes against Ukraine, calling them “unjustified and in serious contradiction to the norms of international law.” Mircea Geoana, outgoing NATO Deputy Secretary General and a former senior Romanian diplomat, said the military alliance also condemned Russia’s violation of Romanian airspace. “While we have no information indicating an intentional attack by Russia against allies, these acts are irresponsible and potentially dangerous,” he wrote on X.
In Ukraine, two civilians were killed and four others wounded in an overnight Russian airstrike on the northern city of Sumy, the regional military administration said. Among the wounded were two children, the administration said. In the Kharkiv region further east, overnight shelling killed two elderly women, according to local governor Oleh Syniehubov.
Overnight, Ukrainian air defenses shot down one of four cruise missiles and 15 of 23 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by Russia, the Ukrainian air force said. It added that none of the cruise missiles had hit their targets.
In Ukraine’s industrial east, Russian forces continued their months-long advance toward the town of Pokrovsk, and also stepped up attacks near the town of Kurakhove further south, Ukraine’s General Staff said.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its troops had taken Novohrodivka, a small town about 19 kilometers (11 miles) southeast of Pokrovsk.
(With contributions from Associated Press)
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