Two RAF Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled from a Romanian air base early on Saturday in response to Russian drones approaching Nato airspace. The aircraft did not open fire, as the potential targets remained within Ukrainian airspace, British defence sources confirmed.
Romanian officials reported that the Typhoons took off at 2am, established radar contact with the drones, and had authorisation to engage if necessary. However, the mission remained one of surveillance and deterrence, with the jets strictly operating within Romanian airspace.
The incident occurred near the Ukrainian town of Reni, where explosions were reported. Ground-based radar systems tracked multiple aerial targets approaching the area before contact was lost. Half an hour later, residents of Galați in Romania reported the fall of an object on the outskirts of the town.
The RAF Typhoons are based in Romania as part of a rotating Nato air mission to protect eastern European countries from potential Russian drone incursions spilling over from the war in Ukraine. A Romanian defence ministry spokesperson stated that the pilots were authorised to engage only if the drones breached Romanian airspace, which they did not.
