Two RAF Eurofighter Typhoons were scrambled from Borcea Air Base in Romania in the early hours of Saturday morning in response to the threat of Russian drones near the Nato border. The Romanian defence ministry reported that drone fragments were recovered in the southeastern city of Galati following an overnight Russian attack on neighbouring Ukraine, damaging an electricity pole and a household annex.
The UK Ministry of Defence stressed that the RAF Typhoons did not enter Ukrainian airspace nor engage any Russian assets, and have since returned to base. Romanian emergency services evacuated the area where fragments were found due to concerns they might contain explosives; the fragments will be disposed of securely.
While drone fragments have previously fallen on Romanian territory, Saturday marked the first instance of property damage. The Romanian defence ministry condemned the attacks, stating they represent a new challenge to regional security and demonstrate Russia's disregard for international law, endangering both Romanian citizens and Nato's collective security.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions along Europe's eastern flank, with suspected Russian drones breaching the airspace of several Nato states in recent months. Romanian law permits shooting down drones during peacetime if lives or property are at risk, though it has not yet done so.
Overnight, Russian forces launched over 600 drones and 47 missiles across Ukraine, killing at least four people and wounding more than 30, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, who called for immediate action from partners. Defence Secretary John Healey recently confirmed that the UK and allies tracked a Russian attack submarine and two spy submarines loitering over undersea cables in the North Atlantic, warning that any attempt to damage critical infrastructure would have serious consequences.
