Romanian fighter jets shoot down 2 drones over Black Sea

Romanian F-16 fighter jets have shot down two drones over the country's territorial waters, according to the Romanian Defense Ministry.

"Two drones were engaged and shot down a few minutes ago by Romanian military pilots over the Black Sea, moments after they had illegally entered our country," Defense Minister Radu Miruta wrote on Facebook.

So far, no information has been released regarding the country of origin of the drones.

What do we know about the incident?

F-16 fighter jets shot down the drones some 20 kilometers (13 miles) southeast of Sulina.

"The first drone entered national airspace at 17:59 (14:59 GMT) and was shot down within two minutes," Miruta said.

He added that the second one was shot down at 6:05 p.m., five minutes after entering Romanian airspace.

"The Black Sea will be safe again," Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu wrote on X. She added that NATO will discuss the issue at a North Atlantic Council meeting on Tuesday.

Drone attacks endanger navigation in the Black Sea

This drone incursion is the latest in a series of incidents believed to be a result of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

In October, several drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea were reported off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria.

The most recent attack occurred on Thursday, when two chemical tankers were attacked off Romania's coast, leaving seven crew members missing.

Both vessels were anchored near the Sulina Canal, which connects the Danube River to the Black Sea. The canal serves as an export route for Ukraine.

Romania, an EU and NATO member, shares a 614-kilometer (381-mile) border with Ukraine, part of which is along the Danube.

The country has repeatedly reported Russian drone incursions into its airspace since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Romania began shooting down these drones earlier this year.

Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez

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