Russian Drone Breaches Romania's Airspace in Second NATO Incursion This Week

Romania Becomes Second NATO Country to Report Russian Drone Incursion BUCHAREST, ROMANIA - In a significant escalation of tensions between Russia and the West, Romania has reported that a Russian drone breached its airspace on Saturday. This incident marks the second time in recent days that a NATO country has detected a Russian drone in its territory. According to a statement from the Romanian Defence Ministry, two F-16 fighter jets were monitoring the country's border with Ukraine when they detected the Russian drone near the village of Chilia Veche, approximately 20 kilometers south-west. The drone was reportedly tracking Ukrainian infrastructure on the Danube River, which has been a frequent target of Russian air attacks. "This is an obvious expansion of the war by Russia," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a statement. "We cannot rule out that this was not a mistake, but a deliberate attempt to test NATO's defenses." The incident comes just days after Poland reported shooting down at least three Russian drones that had entered its airspace. The Polish Defence Ministry described the drones as "a clear threat" and said they were likely on a reconnaissance mission. Romania's Defence Minister, Vasile Dincu, confirmed that the drone did not pose an imminent danger to populated areas, but acknowledged that the incident was a serious concern. "We take all such incidents seriously and will continue to work closely with our NATO allies to ensure the security of our airspace," he said. The detection of Russian drones in Romanian airspace has raised concerns about Russia's increasing military presence in the region. The incident also highlights the growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, which have been at odds over a range of issues including territorial control and economic interests. NATO officials have declined to comment on the incident, but sources close to the alliance say that it is being taken seriously and will be discussed at an upcoming meeting of NATO defence ministers. The incident has also sparked concern among European leaders, who are calling for greater cooperation and coordination in responding to Russian aggression. As tensions between Russia and the West continue to escalate, the detection of a Russian drone in Romanian airspace serves as a stark reminder of the growing threat posed by Moscow's military expansion. *Reporting by Bbc.*