Two RAF jets were scrambled in the early hours of Saturday morning to respond to the threat of Russian drones on the Nato border.
The Romanian defence ministry said it recovered drone fragments in the southeastern city of Galati after an overnight Russian attack on neighbouring Ukraine, with an electricity pole and a household annex damaged.
It is understood that two Eurofighter Typhoons were scrambled from Borcea Air Base in Romania, which shares a 650-km land border with Ukraine and has seen Russian drones repeatedly breach its airspace as Moscow attacks Ukraine ports on the other side of the Danube river.
However, MoD sources stressed that RAF Typhoons did not enter Ukrainian airspace, nor did they engage any Russian assets. The two aircraft have now returned to base.
Romanian emergency services were forced to evacuate the area where drone fragments were recovered over fears they could contain explosives. The fragments will now be disposed of in a secure location.
While drone fragments have routinely fallen on Romania, Saturday marked the first time property had been damaged.
“The defence ministry firmly condemns the irresponsible actions of the Russian Federation and emphasises that these represent a new challenge to regional security and stability in the Black Sea area,” the Romanian defence ministry said in a statement.
“Such incidents demonstrate the Russian Federation’s lack of respect for the norms of international law and endanger not only the safety of Romanian citizens, but also the collective security of NATO.”
It comes amid mounting tension along Europe’s eastern flank in recent months after suspected Russian drones breached the airspace of several NATO states.
Romanian law allows it to shoot down drones during peacetime if lives or property are at risk, but it has not yet done so.
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow…
