New Delhi: In a dramatic escalation, a Russian kamikaze drone reportedly entered NATO airspace and detonated near a Romanian village on Wednesday. Official statements from Bucharest indicated that the attack is still under investigation. According to reports, the Iran-manufactured Shahed drone struck near the Danube River, close to the village of Plaura in southeastern Romania. Ukrainian social media videos from Izmail, a city opposite Plaura, captured the moment an orange flash illuminated the night sky, followed by a loud explosion. The footage showed flames and smoke rising high into the sky. What has Ukrainian Air Force saidThe Ukrainian Air Force stated that the drones were launched from Crimea shortly after midnight. Civilian air defense networks reported that most drones were flying east of the Danube River, aiming to evade detection and interception. Ukrainian defenses managed to shoot down 17 kamikaze drones, six reconnaissance drones, and two loitering strike drones. The majority of these interceptions occurred over the southwestern Odesa region, which borders Romania.🚨🇷🇺🇷🇴RUSSIA ACCIDENTALLY STRIKES NATO COUNTRYOne of their Shahed drones launched at the Ukrainian port city of Izmail reportedly missed its target and flew into Romania, exploding near Plauru.Flames and smoke reaching hundreds of meters into the sky were visible following… pic.twitter.com/X1ZfHITj9t— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 24, 2024What is Romanias response According to local reports, the drone strike caused several explosions around 2 AM in Izmail. The strike damaged port infrastructure and a residential building. Three residents were injured and hospitalized, but no fire broke out. Romanias Defense Ministry confirmed that two F-16 fighter jets were deployed in response to the attack but did not engage the drones.Romanian authorities have launched an investigation to determine if the drone indeed struck Romanian territory. The Ministry of National Defense has ordered measures to conduct investigations in the field, in the vicinity of Plauru, to search for possible objects that may have fallen on national territory, read part of their statement.Romania had previously confirmed a Russian weapon strike in early September 2023. At that time, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis condemned the incident as a violation of our sovereign airspace and discussed it with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.Russia-Ukraine conflictSince early 2023, Russia has aimed to stop all Ukrainian sea exports, especially grain, a major economic asset for Ukraine. The Russian Black Sea Fleet initially tried to blockade Ukrainian ports, but Ukrainian anti-ship missiles sank several Russian vessels, forcing the fleet to retreat. Despite this setback, Russia continues to target Ukrainian port facilities with long-range weapons.NATOs stanceNATO has provided increasing support to Ukraine but has avoided direct intervention to prevent escalation with Russia.
