British fighters scramble after drone crashes in Romania

A drone crash in southeastern Romania prompted emergency measures and a military response after a wave of Russian strikes targeted neighbouring Ukraine.

Authorities confirmed that around 200 residents were evacuated after the drone came down in a populated area of Galați, near the Ukrainian border. No injuries were reported, but minor damage was caused to property, including an الكهرباء pole and an outbuilding, while gas supplies were temporarily shut off as a precaution.

In response to the incident, two fighter jets from the Royal Air Force were scrambled from a NATO base in Borcea. The deployment forms part of ongoing alliance measures to monitor and protect airspace in the region. The UK Ministry of Defence later denied reports that the aircraft had shot down any drones.

Romanian President Nicușor Dan described the incident as a serious escalation, noting it marked the first time Romanian property had been damaged since the start of the conflict. The country’s foreign ministry also summoned the Russian ambassador to address the situation.

Romania, a member of both NATO and the European Union, has experienced previous airspace violations and falling drone debris since Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. However, officials stressed that the latest development raises fresh concerns about the risks of spillover from the ongoing conflict.

The incident comes amid intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine, heightening tensions across the region and prompting renewed focus on security along NATO’s eastern flank.