Russia's Drone Attacks Stir Alarm in NATO Airspace 🚁🛰️
Last Thursday night, a wave of drone attacks from Russia targeted Ukraine, inadvertently busting into NATO's airspace over Romania. This incident triggered an immediate response from German Eurofighters, making it a noteworthy event. As per German Press Agency reports, Russian aircraft were detected by German crews during the attack, including visual confirmation, but no order was given to engage them as they posed no immediate threat. Up to 70 drones of the Shadhed 136 type were tracked during the attack, with at least one exploding over Romania's airspace according to initial findings.
Airforce Alert 🚨🛠️
The Multinational Command Post for NATO air forces, nicknamed the Combined Air Operations Center, noticed the attack beginning at 9:42 p.m. CET. This ignited an "Alpha Scramble," ordering armed fighter aircraft up in the sky at 10:01 p.m. The team at the command post took charge to maintain the situation under control. This situation was deemed as a significant incident by the team.
Ukraine Takes Down Drone Swarm 💥🛬
Ukrainian authorities report that over 40 Russian combat drones were taken down during the night, primarily over the Odessa region bordering Romania. The Romanian Ministry of Defense announced a bomb crater 1.5 meters deep in the Danube delta near the village of Grindu. This village is 6.5 kilometers from the Ukrainian border and officials suggested it could potentially be a Russian drone remnant, though this remains unproven.
The Romanian military is currently contributing to NATO’s eastern flank security with four fighter jets and protective flights from the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase near Constanta. Unauthorized infiltrations of the Romanian side of the border with Ukraine have occurred several times, linked to Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports on the Danube. However, these incidents are not seen as intentional by Russia as of now.
Additional Reads 📚
Insider Scoop 👥
- The Russian drone that breached Romanian airspace on December 14, 2024, was identified as a Shahed 136 model, a type of drone commonly used by Russia. The drone fell near the Romanian village of Grindu, creating a crater 1.5 meters deep in the Danube delta.
- Romania has passed a bill allowing for the shooting down of unauthorized drones or missiles that enter its airspace, aiming to curb unlawful airspace usage.
- Romanian authorities condemned multiple Russian drone invasions into Moldovan territory following a large-scale drone attack on Ukraine’s Reni port. Two Russian drones crashed in southern Moldova, causing no casualties.
Sources:
- www.stern.de
