Romanian authorities publicly refute claims that they granted access to Ukrainian military aircraft within their airspace.
In the early hours of July 21, 2021, two Romanian F-16 fighter jets were scrambled from the 86th Borcea Air Base for aerial reconnaissance. This action was prompted by the detection of multiple air targets near the Maramures-Suceava border region.
According to the Romanian Ministry of National Defense, a total of 12 Ukrainian aircraft were tracked, with four entering Romanian airspace. These aircraft remained for only a few minutes in the areas of Sighetu Marmatiei and Vicovu de Sus.
However, there is no available information from current search results indicating that Romanian President Nicușor Dan either confirmed or denied permission for Ukrainian fighter jets to fly over Romanian territory in July 2021. This is significant as President Dan's term as president began in May 2025, making it unlikely that he could have made such statements in 2021.
In a recent statement, President Dan confirmed that he had full access to all relevant information and emphasized that no such authorization had been given. He also denied claims by Russia that Ukrainian fighter jets were granted permission to fly over Romanian territory.
The Ukrainian authorities relocated aircraft from western Ukrainian airfields as a precaution due to intensified Russian strikes on airport infrastructure. It is believed that the Ukrainian aircraft entered Romanian territory unintentionally and briefly.
The Romanian government reiterated that the incident was a result of emergency dispersal measures by Ukraine and was not coordinated with Romanian airspace control. They further stated that the Ukrainian aircraft did not pose a threat to Romanian national security, human lives, or infrastructure.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized Romania's handling of the alleged airspace intrusion by four Ukrainian military aircraft. However, the Romanian Ministry stands firm in its position that the incident was unintentional and posed no threat to Romanian safety or security.
In conclusion, while the exact circumstances surrounding the unintended airspace intrusion by Ukrainian jets over Romania in July 2021 remain unclear, the Romanian government has denied any authorization for such an event and emphasized that the incident did not pose a threat to Romanian national security.
In the realm of general news, the unauthorised airspace intrusion by Ukrainian jets over Romania in July 2021, although resulting from emergency measures by Ukraine, sparked a flurry of political discussions and speculations due to its geopolitical implications, aligning it with the broader context of war-and-conflicts. Despite Russian criticism, the Romanian government persistently maintains that the incident was an unintentional violation, posing no threat to Romanian national security.
