Two RAF Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled from a Romanian air base early on Saturday in response to Russian drones approaching Nato airspace, but they did not open fire, British defence sources have confirmed.
The jets, part of a rotating Nato air mission to protect eastern European countries, established radar contact with the drones but remained within Romanian airspace. Romanian officials reported that the Typhoons took off at 2am and had authorisation to engage if necessary, but the potential targets stayed within Ukrainian airspace.
A spokesperson for the Romanian defence ministry said ground-based radar systems tracked multiple aerial targets approaching the area near Reni, Ukraine, where explosions were subsequently reported. Contact with the drones was lost after that point, and half an hour later, residents of Galați in Romania reported the fall of an object on the outskirts of the town.
The incident contradicts earlier reports that Russian drones had been shot down by the RAF inside Ukraine, which would have represented a major escalation. The UK and its allies have consistently refused to police Ukrainian skies to avoid direct confrontation with Russia.
The RAF Typhoons operated strictly within Romanian airspace in accordance with national and allied rules of engagement. The mission remained one of surveillance, deterrence, and readiness to respond if required, officials said.
