On the morning of January 30, 2025, Romanian authorities were forced to scramble two F-16 fighter jets after Russian drones were detected approaching the Romanian border during an ongoing Russian assault on Ukraine. The Romanian Ministry of National Defence reported that the drones were part of a series of strikes targeting Ukrainian civilian and port infrastructure, particularly near the Tulcea County area, which borders Romania.
Romanian surveillance and monitoring systems tracked the drones’ flight paths, which appeared to be moving closer to Romanian airspace. In response, the Romanian Air Force deployed two F-16 aircraft from the 86th air base in Borcea at approximately 3:40 AM. The fighter jets performed combat airspace patrols over the area, ensuring that no intrusions into Romania’s national airspace occurred. The aircraft returned to their base around 5:00 AM after confirming the area was clear of any threats.
The Ministry of National Defence also issued an RO-Alert warning to the population in Tulcea County at 3:30 AM, informing residents of the potential threat. At 4:50 AM, the alert was lifted after it was confirmed that no drones had entered Romanian airspace. Despite this, the Ministry stated that further monitoring and research would continue in regions where risks could arise from future incidents.
The Romanian Defence Ministry condemned the Russian drone strikes, describing them as unjustifiable and in violation of international law.
