NATO Activates Air Defences as Russian Strikes Hit Danube Border
For the second time in just three nights, NATO was compelled to scramble fighter jets from Romania following a fresh wave of horrific Russian drone strikes on Ukraine. The attacks targeted the key port of Izmail on the River Danube, which forms the natural border with the NATO member state, bringing the conflict alarmingly close to allied territory.
Civilian Tragedy Amidst Peace Talks
The overnight assaults resulted in significant civilian casualties, underscoring the brutal reality of the war even as diplomatic efforts continue. In Kharkiv, a massive drone strike killed four people, including a mother named Natalya, and left 17 others wounded. Her son, Oleksandr Balaklytskyi, recounted the harrowing final moments of a phone call with his mother. "She called and said that a nearby building had just been hit," he said. "She went outside frightened... and then I hear again that a 'Shahed' is flying. She says, 'It's descending,' and starts to panic. And 'bang' - she screamed and then the connection was lost."
Among the wounded was 77-year-old pensioner Volodymyr Kravtsov, who described the moment of impact. "I was in the room. I went to the window to look. Impact. I dodged, everything flew at me... Then I smelled burning, it was on fire. Smoke... Everything burned down," he said.
NATO's Rapid Response and Regional Fallout
In response to the drone strikes on Izmail, the Romanian Air Force immediately launched a defensive operation. A statement confirmed that "Two Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft of the German allies, from the Reinforced Air Police combat service, were scrambled to monitor the air situation." Later, when more incoming drones were detected north of Ukraine’s Snake Island, two Romanian F-16 fighters were also deployed.
The Romanian military accused Russia of conducting "drone attacks on civilian targets and port infrastructure" in Ukraine, noting that explosions were observed on the Ukrainian side. The proximity of the attack was stark, with Romanian territory lying just several hundred yards across the Danube.
This escalation occurs against a backdrop of renewed peace talks in Geneva, where a US-led 28-point proposal is being discussed. Concurrently, a senior NATO general has issued a stark warning that Moscow is orchestrating the supply of hard drugs and migrants from Africa in a deliberate campaign to destabilise Western nations.
