War - Russia violates NATO airspace: air force launch alert
During the night, Russian drone attacks on Ukraine violated NATO airspace over Romania and triggered alarm launches by German Eurofighters. According to the German Press Agency, Russian aircraft were identified by the German crews, including by visual contact, without an order from NATO to shoot them down.
Up to 70 Russian drones of the type Shahed 136 were registered during the wave of attacks on targets in Ukraine, one of which, according to preliminary findings, also exploded over Romanian airspace.
According to this information, the attack was noticed from 9.42 p.m. German time and was followed by a multinational command post for the command and control of NATO air forces ("Combined Air Operations Center"). According to this, the order to launch an alert ("Alpha Scramble") was given at 10.02 p.m., and the armed fighter aircraft were in the air at 10.11 p.m. The incident is considered significant.
According to the Ukrainian air force, 41 of 42 Russian combat drones were shot down during the night, most of them over the Odessa region bordering Romania. The Romanian Ministry of Defence reported a bomb crater 1.5 meters deep in the Danube delta near the Romanian village of Grindu, 6.5 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The possibility that it was a Russian drone was described as "possible".
The air force is currently involved in securing the south-eastern flank of NATO with four fighter jets and armed protection flights from the Romanian military airfield Mihail Kogălniceanu near Constanta. On the Romanian side of the border with Ukraine, there were several incidents in which airspace was violated. They were all linked to Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports on the Danube. So far, however, an analysis described as very precise has shown that these cases were not intentional on the part of Russia.
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- In response to the escalating conflicts in Ukraine, Germany has deployed Eurofighter jets to Romania to support NATO's air defense efforts.
- German officials suspect that Russia is using drones to conduct reconnaissance and potentially bombing operations in and around Ukraine, posing a threat to NATO's airspace.
- According to Berlin's defense minister, the intervention of German fighter jets in Romania is evidence of NATO's solidarity and commitment to maintaining peace and security in Europe.
- The Shahed 136 drone, a type frequently used by Iran and Russia, was spotted over Romania's border with Ukraine, causing concern among European leaders about potential Russian aggression.
- In a press conference, the German Minister of Defense reported the downing of multiple Russian combat drones in Ukrainian airspace, emphasizing the importance of close coordination between NATO member states and their air forces.
- As tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to rise, neighboring countries like Romania have increased their air defense capabilities, relying on NATO's support to secure their borders from potential drone attacks.
- After the drone attack on Romanian airspace, NATO officials in Brussels are investigating the incident, looking for signs of intentional or unintentional border violations by Russian drones.
- Last week, during a joint exercise between the Romanian and German air forces, both nations practiced intercepting and destroying Russian drones, showcasing their cooperation and commitment to protecting NATO's airspace.
Source: www.stern.de
