Romania Reports Surge in Russian Drone Incursions, Fighter Jets Scrambled 52 Times

Unauthorized drones and unmanned naval weapons are crossing into NATO territory more often, threatening energy infrastructure and testing the alliance. Romania's defence ministry counted 26 such breaches of its airspace and maritime zones so far in 2026. That is triple the number for all of last year, even though the year is only two-thirds finished.

Bucharest keeps a tracker showing Romanian air force and allied NATO Air Policing jets were scrambled 52 times this year to watch or intercept threats. Last year the total was 21, and in 2024 it was just 11. In four cases, hostile drones were shot down. The most recent was on 20 August, when a Romanian F-16 destroyed an unmanned underwater vehicle near the Neptune Deep offshore gas platform in the Black Sea.

A law passed last year allows Romania's armed forces to neutralize or destroy any drone entering the country without permission. The Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank, reported at least 30 similar incidents across Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova between 1 August and 8 September. Most were along the Black Sea coast or near the Ukrainian border.

Russia has been hitting Ukraine with one-way attack drones and long-range missiles for four years. Romanian President Nicusor Dan blamed Moscow for the Neptune Deep incident. He said lives and critical energy infrastructure were at risk, and condemned what he called irresponsible incidents by the Russian Federation. Dan said Romania remains vigilant with NATO allies.