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Romania Shoots Down Third Russian Drone in Three Days as NATO Airspace Breaches Continue
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
A Romanian Air Force F-16 fighter jet shot down a Russian drone that entered the country’s airspace on July 26, marking the third such interception in as many days, according to statements by Romanian President Nicușor Dan.
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The incident occurred at 10:13 a.m. local time in the Sulina–Chilia area, where the aircraft engaged the target over Romania’s territorial waters. Announcing the interception on X, Dan praised the Romanian Air Force personnel involved in the operation.
“I congratulate the Romanian pilots and ground crews for the professionalism, courage and efficiency with which they carried out their mission. Through their actions, they contribute to the defense of the national territory and the safety of Romanian citizens.”
O nouă dronă a fost doborâtă în această dimineață, la ora 10:13, de un avion F-16 al Forțelor Aeriene Române, deasupra apelor teritoriale ale României, în zona Sulina–Chilia.
— Nicușor Dan (@NicusorDanRO) July 26, 2026
Îi felicit pe piloții români și pe echipele de la sol pentru profesionalismul, curajul și eficiența cu…
The president also said Romania’s Prosecutor General’s Office had confirmed that the drone destroyed a day earlier was a Russian-made Shahed attack drone used by Moscow in its war against Ukraine. Investigations into the drones intercepted over the past two days are ongoing, and their findings will serve as the basis for an official diplomatic protest to Russia.
“It is unacceptable and intolerable that the Russian Federation continues to violate Romania’s airspace, which is also the airspace of NATO and the European Union. Such actions are unacceptable, and we treat them with the utmost seriousness together with our allies.”
The latest interception follows two similar incidents earlier this week. On July 24, a Romanian F-16 destroyed a drone that had crossed into the country’s airspace over an uninhabited area, allowing the pilot to engage the target without posing a risk to civilians.
During that incident, NATO scrambled four aircraft—two Romanian F-16s and two Italian Eurofighter Typhoons deployed under the Alliance’s Air Policing mission.
A second Russian drone was shot down on July 25 after entering Romanian airspace during another large-scale Russian drone attack against Ukraine.
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