site.btaRomania Scrambles F-16s in Response to Russian Drone Attacks in Ukraine Next to Romanian Border

Romania scrambled F-16 fighter jets in response to a Russian drone attack near Tulcea County, the Ministry of National Defence of the Balkan country said in a press release on Thursday.

On the night of June 11 and the morning of June 12, the forces of the Russian Federation conducted a new series of attacks with unmanned aerial vehicles on civilian targets and port infrastructure in Ukraine, in the area of ​​the Vylkove locality in the Ukrainian part of the Danube Delta, Southwest Ukraine, on the border with Romania.

The radar monitoring and surveillance systems of the Ministry of National Defence signaled and monitored air targets in Ukrainian airspace, near the border with Romania in the vicinity of Tulcea County. The National Military Command Center notified the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations regarding measures to alert the population in the border area in the north of the county and RO-Alert messages were transmitted to the population in the area.

According to the procedures in force, two Romanian Air Force F-16 aircraft belonging to the Air Policing Combat Service took off from the 86th Air Base in Borcea and conducted surveillance and protection missions of Romania's airspace.

The radar systems of the Ministry of National Defence did not indicate, at any time, any unauthorized intrusions of the monitored targets into national airspace, the statement said.

In accordance to standard operating procedures, the Ministry of National Defence will conduct searches in areas where risks may arise as a result of the situation, the statement added. Allied structures were informed in real time about the situation at the border.

The Ministry of National Defence firmly condemns the attacks conducted by the Russian Federation against Ukrainian civilian targets and infrastructure, which are unjustified and in serious contradiction with international law, the statement concludes.