Romania scrambles fighter jets in response to Russian airstrikes near border

The Romanian Ministry of Defence has confirmed that both Romanian and Italian fighter jets were scrambled overnight in response to Russian aerial operations in Ukraine, some of which briefly violated Romanian airspace.

According to a statement released by the ministry, air defence systems detected 12 aerial targets within Ukrainian airspace north of Romania’s border during the night-time hours from July 20 into July 21. Of these, four projectiles inadvertently crossed into Romanian airspace for a short duration, Caliber.Az reports.

“During the operations carried out during the night, 12 air targets were detected in Ukrainian airspace north of the border with Romania. Four of them inadvertently penetrated for a few minutes into Romanian airspace, in the areas of Sighetu Marmației and Vicovu de Sus. They posed no real threat to national security, human life or Romanian property,” the Defence Ministry stated.

In response, the Romanian Air Force deployed F-16 fighter jets from the Borcea Air Base, while Italian Eurofighter Typhoons operating under NATO’s Air Policing mission launched from the Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase.

Following the completion of their respective missions, all aircraft returned safely to their bases.

The incident comes amid continued Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure near the western border, occasionally raising alarm among neighbouring NATO member states. Romanian authorities reiterated that they are maintaining a high level of readiness in coordination with NATO partners to ensure the security of national airspace and regional stability.

By Vafa Guliyeva