Romania scrambles F-16 jets after Russian drone activity near border

Romania’s Ministry of National Defence said that it scrambled F-16 fighter jets and placed air defence systems on standby after detecting a group of Russian drones near its border in the Tulcea County area.

The General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations issued a RO-Alert warning to residents in northern Tulcea County, Romania Journal reports.

“On the morning of Tuesday, April 14, Russian forces resumed drone attacks against civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine, near the river border with Romania, in Tulcea County. Following the detection of a group of drones operating near Romania’s airspace (north of Vâlcove), the National Military Command Center (core) notified the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations to implement public alert measures in northern Tulcea County. A RO-Alert message was sent at 03:48,” the Ministry of Defence said.

Military officials confirmed that two Romanian Air Force F-16 aircraft were launched from the 86th Air Base in Fetești as part of NATO air policing duties, while air defence systems were placed in firing positions.

“Two F-16 aircraft of the Romanian Air Force, part of the Air Policing combat service, took off from the 86th Air Base in Fetești, and air defense systems were placed in firing positions. No incursions into national airspace were detected. The air alert ended at 04:45. The Ministry of National Defence has informed and continues to inform allied structures in real time about the situations generated by these attacks and remains in permanent contact with them,” the ministry added.

By Vafa Guliyeva