Two RAF Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled from a Romanian air base early on Saturday to intercept Russian drones approaching Nato airspace, but did not open fire. British defence sources confirmed the jets did not enter Ukrainian airspace, contrary to reports that Russian drones had been shot down by the RAF there.
Romanian officials reported that the Typhoons took off at 2am in response to the drone threat, established radar contact, and had authorisation to engage if necessary. The aircraft operated strictly within Romanian airspace, adhering to national and allied rules of engagement.
A spokesperson for the Romanian defence ministry said ground-based radar systems tracked multiple aerial targets near the Ukrainian town of Reni, where explosions were later reported. Contact with the drones was lost after that, and half an hour later, residents of Galați in Romania reported the fall of an object on the outskirts of the town.
The Typhoons are based in Romania as part of a rotating Nato air mission to protect eastern European countries from Russian drone incursions that might spill over from the war in Ukraine. The mission remained one of surveillance, deterrence, and readiness to respond if required.
Shooting down Russian drones inside Ukraine would represent a major escalation, as Ukraine is not a Nato member and the west has consistently refused to police its skies to avoid direct confrontation with Russia.
