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NATO Clears Fighter Jets to Engage Russian Drones Over Romania for the First Time
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
British Royal Air Force fighter jets were authorized to engage Russian attack drones over Romanian territory for the first time during a large-scale Russian strike on Ukraine overnight on April 25.
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According to Romania’s Ministry of Defense, radar systems detected multiple drones approaching the country’s airspace during the attack, prompting a response under NATO air policing protocols.
Two RAF Eurofighter Typhoon jets were scrambled from Fetesti Air Base at approximately 02:00 local time to monitor and intercept the targets.
The aircraft established radar contact with aerial objects at a distance of around 1.5 kilometers from the Ukrainian city of Reni, near the Romanian border. Pilots received authorization to engage the drones, marking the first known instance of NATO aircraft being cleared to use force against Russian unmanned systems over Romanian territory.
At approximately 02:31, residents in the Romanian city of Galati reported that objects had fallen to the ground. Emergency services were dispatched to the Bariera Traian area, where authorities later confirmed that drone fragments had been recovered from multiple locations.
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The debris caused limited damage to outbuildings and an electrical transmission line, but no casualties were reported.
According to Romania’s Ministry of Defense, one of the drones that fell on Romanian territory carried an explosive payload. As a precaution, authorities evacuated nearby residents and temporarily shut off gas supply across several streets in the affected area.
Romanian officials condemned the incident, stating: “Such incidents show the Russian Federation’s disregard for international law and put at risk not only the security of Romanian citizens but also the collective security of NATO.”
The incident occurred during a broader Russian missile and drone attack targeting multiple regions of Ukraine, including Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv region. Ukrainian authorities reported strikes on residential areas and infrastructure, with casualties and damage recorded across several cities.
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-8d2c62b714eaf0349b657a867b6f2ae2.jpg "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev shake hands during an official meeting in Baku, April 2026. (Source: Office of the President of Ukraine)")
