Second Russian Shahed Drone Shot Down in Romanian Airspace

Romanian Air Force F-16 fighter jets intercepted and shot down a second Russian Shahed drone entering Romanian airspace near Sfântu Gheorghe, following a similar incident a day prior.

Key points

• President Nicușor Dan confirmed that the drone was shot down at 08:30 on Saturday, approximately 10 kilometers west of Sfântu Gheorghe.
• Radar systems of the Romanian Ministry of National Defense detected the unauthorized entry at 08:22.
• The operation involved two F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft executing standard interception and neutralisation procedures in an unpopulated area.
• This follows an incident the previous day where another Shahed drone was downed over the Buzău county area.

Why it matters

The back-to-back interception of foreign military drones in Romanian airspace highlights escalating security risks along NATO's eastern flank amid intensifying regional conflicts.