Romania expels Russian diplomat after three drones breach NATO airspace
Romania gives Russian diplomat five days to leave (Photo: Romanian Foreign Ministry / Facebook)
Romania is expelling an employee of the Russian Embassy in
Bucharest over repeated incursions into the country’s airspace by Russian
drones, the Romanian Foreign Ministry reported
on July 27.
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.
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