NATO: Downed drone targeted Ukrainian ports
Russian drones violate the airspace of NATO member Romania, and one of the unmanned flying objects even crashes. NATO and Romania responded by launching fighter jets on alert. However, Brussels is certain that the drone was not aimed at an allied country.
NATO has no evidence that a drone from Russia that crashed in Romania was intended for a target in allied territory. According to Romanian intelligence, Russia had been using the drone for an attack on Ukrainian port infrastructure, said alliance spokesman Dylan White in Brussels. NATO had no evidence of a targeted attack by Russia on an ally.
The NATO spokesman also confirmed that German fighter jets stationed in Romania took off on surveillance flights in response to Russia's attack on targets in neighboring Ukraine. Romanian aircraft had also carried out so-called alert take-offs, he said.
According to the German Press Agency, NATO jets came so close to the Russian drones during surveillance flights that the crews were able to identify them by visual contact. However, NATO did not give the order to shoot them down. According to reports, up to 70 Russian drones of the type Shahed 136 were registered during the wave of attacks on targets in Ukraine. These weapons can carry a warhead weighing up to 60 kilograms and are often used in swarms, partly due to their lack of precision.
Romania sees renewed violation of airspace
Commenting on Russia's latest attack, the NATO spokesperson said: "We condemn Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine and along the Danube in the strongest possible terms." The situation is being continuously monitored and close contact is being maintained with the Romanian authorities.
Following the downing of a drone, Romania summoned the Russian ambassador. It was a "new violation of Romanian airspace", explained the Foreign Ministry in Bucharest.
The drone reportedly tore a 1.50 meter deep crater in an uninhabited area near the village of Grindu. Craters and drone debris had already been discovered in September and October in south-eastern Romania near the border with Ukraine. Since withdrawing from an agreement on grain exports, Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukrainian ports near the border with Romania.
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Despite Russia's denial, NATO continues to monitor the use of drones by Moscow in the region, especially near Ukrainian ports. Recent intel suggests that a similar drone involved in the downed incident was used in attacks against Ukrainian ports, potentially posing a threat to NATO's eastern flank.
Source: www.ntv.de
