Romania scrambles F-16s after Russian drone strike near border

In the early hours between 5 and 6 August, Romania scrambled its F-16 fighter jets following a large-scale Russian drone strike targeting southern regions of Ukraine near the Romanian border.

Thus, two Romanian F-16 fighters were deployed to monitor the country’s airspace but did not detect any unauthorised incursions, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

According to the Romanian Ministry of Defence, Russian forces launched a significant attack on civilian infrastructure in the vicinity of Izmail, close to Romania’s border.

Romanian radar systems detected aerial targets in Ukrainian airspace near Tulcea County. Authorities issued warnings to residents in the northern part of the county via the RO-Alert system.

The government strongly condemned Russia’s aggressive actions, describing them as a blatant violation of international law that threatens regional security.

To recall, on the night of August 6, a drone strike by Russian forces targeted the Izmail district in Ukraine’s Odessa region, damaging gas infrastructure and causing a fire visible from neighbouring Romania.

Ukrainian officials confirmed the use of kamikaze drones despite active air defences. The blaze triggered 19 emergency calls in Romania and an air raid alert lasting 90 minutes. Romanian defence authorities detected Russian activity near the northern border by the Danube River.

The fire destroyed production equipment, and damage to the main gas pipeline temporarily cut supply to 2,500 subscribers. Firefighters have since extinguished the blaze, and gas is being safely released from the system.

By Aghakazim Guliyev