NATO scrambled fighter jets overnight on September 29-30 after a possible Russian threat was detected near Romania's border with Ukraine. Two F-18 aircraft from Spain's air force took off after an "aerial target" moved close to the Romanian border.
Radar detection and response
Romania's Ministry of National Defence posted on X that its radar surveillance system detected an aerial target moving east of Izmail, in Ukraine, near the river border with Romania. Two F-18 aircraft of the Spanish Air and Space Force, currently on Enhanced Air Policing combat duty, took off to monitor the situation.
The National Military Command Center notified the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations regarding the implementation of population alert measures in northern Tulcea County, and a RO-Alert message was issued at 00:35. No incursions into national airspace were detected. The air alert ended at 01:10.
Recent scrambles and Russian attacks
This comes after planes were scrambled on the night of September 28-29, when a radar surveillance system detected an aerial target operating north of Isaccea, near the river border with Ukraine. Two F-18 aircraft took off to monitor the situation, officials added.
Jets were scrambled three times between August 31 and September 6 in response to Russian military aircraft operating near the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), according to data from Lithuania's Defence Ministry.
Russia launched a missile and drone attack on Kyiv overnight on September 30, killing at least two people and injuring four others, according to local officials. More than a dozen explosions hit the city just before 3am local time. Moscow has intensified its attacks on Kyiv since August, aiming to exhaust Ukraine's air defences, the Kyiv Independent reports.
Nuclear threat to UK
Yesterday, Russia issued a nuclear threat to the UK following the airing of a documentary that depicted how a conflict with Britain could play out. The country's UK embassy said on X: "Those advocating a blockade or strike on Kaliningrad should have no illusions about the consequences. Any British or NATO military action against Russian territory would be met with all means at Russia's disposal, including nuclear weapons."
