Romanian F-16s shoot down two drones over Black Sea waters

Romanian F-16 fighter jets shot down two drones after they entered the country’s airspace over its Black Sea territorial waters on Saturday, the Defence Ministry said. A Romanian public broadcaster separately reported the interception, and the Foreign Ministry said the aircraft had crossed without authorisation. The ministry gave entry times of 5:59 p.m. and 6:01 p.m. local time.

Defence Minister Radu Miruță said on Sunday that the speed of about 450 kilometres an hour suggested the drones were turboprop-powered Geran-4 models of Russian manufacture. That identification is a Romanian assessment rather than an independently established finding. Officials did not report casualties or damage from the interceptions.

The incident adds to repeated drone incursions and maritime attacks near NATO’s eastern edge. Romania shares a long border with Ukraine, much of it along the Danube, and the Sulina Canal is an important export route. Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu said the North Atlantic Council would discuss Black Sea defence and deterrence on Tuesday. NATO said it remains ready to respond to threats, while searches continued for crew members missing after separate tanker attacks near the Romanian coast.