Romania expels Russian diplomat after three drones breach NATO airspace

The ministry summoned the Russian ambassador and presented him with a formal protest over drone incidents between July 24 and 26, 2026. Romanian forces shot down three drones that illegally entered the country’s airspace during that period.

During the meeting, Romanian officials showed the ambassador wreckage from one of the drones. Prosecutors concluded that its components were of Russian origin.

“It is absolutely unacceptable and intolerable for the Russian Federation to continue violating Romanian airspace, which is both NATO and European Union airspace. Russia bears sole responsibility for all these serious incidents and for the deterioration of the regional security environment,” the ministry said in a post.

The ambassador also received a verbal note informing him that an employee of the Russian diplomatic mission had been declared persona non grata. The diplomat has five days to leave Romania.

Bucharest also recalled its ambassador to Russia for consultations.

The Romanian Foreign Ministry said the country would continue coordinating with its NATO and EU allies and take all necessary measures to protect its national security and citizens.

Romania’s Ministry of National Defense reported that another drone entered the country’s airspace on the morning of July 27 but soon flew back into Ukraine. Several explosions then occurred on Ukrainian territory.

Romania spent about 1.5 million euros in just three days to shoot down the three drones that entered its airspace, Digi24 reported.

A Romanian Air Force F-16 shot down a drone over the country’s territorial waters in the Sulina-Kiliya area on July 26.

A Romanian F-16 pilot downed another drone 10 kilometers west of Sfântu Gheorghe on July 25.

Romanian President Nicușor Dan reported on July 24 that an F-16 had destroyed an “unidentified drone” after it violated the country’s airspace. The aircraft was later identified as a Russian Shahed.