World

EU Condemns Moscow After Russian Drone Breaches Romanian Airspace, Sparking Security Fears

Russian drone breached Romanian airspace, condemned by EU leaders as a sovereignty violation.

September 14, 2025, 3:07 PM

Kaja Kallas, wearing a black blazer, speaks at a press conference with European Union flags behind her

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, holds a press conference in Chisinau, Moldova. By Victor Mogyldea / Shutterstock.com.

Executive Summary

A Russian drone breached Romanian airspace, marking the second such violation of EU territory in less than a week and drawing strong condemnation from EU leaders as an unacceptable breach of sovereignty.

The latest incident follows a previous incursion where 19 Russian drones invaded Polish airspace, prompting NATO interception and highlighting challenges in countering low-cost drone threats.

These repeated breaches underscore escalating tensions, the direct impact of the Ukraine conflict on neighboring EU and NATO states, and the growing challenges posed by drone warfare to established defense protocols.

The Story So Far

The recent incursions by Russian drones into Romanian and Polish airspace are direct consequences of Russia’s ongoing attacks on southern Ukraine, highlighting the escalating tensions and the conflict’s direct impact on neighboring EU and NATO member states. These repeated breaches underscore the challenges posed by modern drone warfare and the urgent need for enhanced regional security.

Why This Matters

The repeated Russian drone incursions into EU airspace, particularly Romania’s, signal a significant escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, directly threatening the sovereignty and regional security of neighboring EU and NATO member states. These incidents underscore the growing challenge of modern drone warfare to established defense protocols and raise questions about NATO’s preparedness and cost-effectiveness in countering such threats.

Who Thinks What?

European Union leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, strongly condemn Russian drone incursions as unacceptable violations of EU sovereignty and direct threats to regional security.

The repeated breaches highlight the challenges posed to established defense protocols and the perceived disparity in NATO’s response to drone threats, as NATO forces reportedly deployed expensive equipment to counter less costly Russian drones.

European Union leaders have strongly condemned Moscow following a Russian drone’s breach of Romanian airspace, marking the second such violation of EU territory in less than a week. The incursion occurred during ongoing Russian attacks on southern Ukraine, prompting high-level EU officials to label it a blatant breach of sovereignty and a direct threat to regional security.

Recent Incursions and Official Reactions

The latest incident saw two Romanian F-16 fighter jets identify a Russian drone over Romanian territory during a scouting exercise. No damage or injuries were reported from the drone’s presence.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the incursion as an unacceptable violation of EU sovereignty and a threat to the region’s stability. Echoing this sentiment, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas characterized it as an intolerable breach of an EU member state’s sovereignty, emphasizing the continued escalation’s risk to regional security. Romania’s foreign minister also criticized the incident as unacceptable and reckless.

Previous Breach and NATO Response

This latest event follows a similar incident last Wednesday, when 19 Russian drones invaded Polish airspace. NATO forces responded to the earlier incursion, with Dutch Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets intercepting five of the drones.

The previous incursion into Poland brought to light the transatlantic alliance’s preparedness, or lack thereof, in effectively handling drone threats. It highlighted a significant disparity, as NATO forces reportedly deployed equipment valued at billions of dollars to counter Russian drones primarily constructed from wood and foam.

Implications for Regional Security

The repeated breaches of EU airspace underscore the escalating tensions and the direct impact of the conflict in Ukraine on neighboring EU and NATO member states. These incidents emphasize the emerging centrality of drone warfare in modern military operations and the challenges they pose to established defense protocols.