Romania has expelled a Russian diplomat in response to a series of drone incursions into its airspace, marking a significant escalation amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The action was announced on July 27, following incidents in which Romanian forces shot down three drones over a span of three consecutive days at the end of last week. Another drone intrusion was reported by Romania’s defence ministry the following day.
The Romanian foreign ministry summoned Russian Ambassador Vladimir Lipayev to deliver the diplomatic protest and notify him of the decision to declare one member of the Russian mission in Bucharest undesirable, requiring the individual to leave Romanian territory within five days. During the meeting, Romanian officials presented fragments of the first drone, which was intercepted on Friday by an F-16 fighter jet.
Subsequent investigations identified this drone as a Russian-made Shahed model, according to Romania’s ammunition authorities. Investigations are ongoing into the origins of the other drones shot down over the weekend. A senior NATO military spokesperson indicated that at least one of the drones also appeared to be of Russian origin.
Russia promptly rejected the allegations, describing them as unfounded and accusing Romania of engaging in staged propaganda. The Russian foreign ministry emphasized that no conclusive proof had been presented to establish Russian responsibility for the drone flights. The statement also criticized Romania’s perceived increasing support for Ukraine, calling it “intolerable” and warning that the expulsion of the diplomat “will not go unanswered.”
Romania’s response reflects heightened security concerns along the NATO member’s border with Ukraine, where the conflict has intensified in recent months. The drone incidents have raised fears of spillover effects from the war in Ukraine, prompting Romania to take firm measures to safeguard its airspace. NATO has supported Romania’s assessment, with allied officials highlighting the evidence linking the incursions to Russian technology, though Moscow continues to deny involvement.
The diplomatic fallout between Romania and Russia underscores tensions related to the war in Ukraine and the broader regional security dynamics. Romania’s actions signal its intent to respond decisively to perceived violations of its sovereignty, while Russia’s response suggests the potential for further diplomatic reprisal. The situation remains fluid as investigations continue and both sides navigate this confrontation amid the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe.