NATO member Romania admits parts of suspected Russian drone fell on its territory
Romania admitted Wednesday that parts of what could be a Russian drone did fall on the NATO member’s territory — two days after “categorically” denying the incident, despite photographic evidence released by Ukraine.
Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tilvar told local news channel Antena 3 CNN that fragments of an apparent drone were discovered in the eastern Tulcea county on the shores of the Danube River, which separates Romania from neighboring Ukraine.
“I confirm that in this area, pieces that may be of a drone were found,” Tilvar said.
The minister added that the area had not been evacuated because there was nothing to suggest that the suspected drone parts posed a threat and said the pieces would be analyzed to determine their origin.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis warned that confirmation of the discovered parts belonging to a Russian unmanned aircraft would be “completely inadmissible and a serious violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Romania, a NATO allied state.”
“We are on alert and in constant contact with our NATO allies,” he added, speaking in Bucharest at the start of an international summit.
Romanian leaders’ public about-face comes after the country’s Ministry of National Defense “categorically denied” claims made Monday by the spokesperson for Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who said that kamikaze drones launched by Russia as part of an attack Sunday night on the port of Izmail on the Danube fell and exploded on Romanian soil.
Oleg Nikolenko shared images showing a fireball shooting into the air at the site of the alleged detonation from across a river.
“This is yet another confirmation that Russia’s missile terror poses a huge threat not only to Ukraine’s security, but also to the security of neighboring countries, including NATO member states,” Nikolenko said at the time.
Romania swiftly clapped back at the Ukrainian official’s claim about what it called “a so-called overnight situation.” Its statement said in part that “at no time did Russia’s means of attack generate direct military threats on Romanian national territory or waters.”
The Romanian president also denied Ukraine’s claims Tuesday, saying that the attacks were “verified 800 yards from our border, so very, very close.”
Less than 24 hours later, Iohannis told reporters he had requested an “urgent investigation” into the drone incident.
Tilvar, the defense minister, reiterated there was no direct threat and told the news agency Agerpres it was possible the drone did not detonate on impact but rather it simply fell or pieces landed on Romanian territory.
“[That] does not make us happy … but I don’t think that we can talk about an attack and, as I said before, I think we need to know how to distinguish between an act of aggression and an incident,” the official was quoted as saying.
A ministry spokesperson said search teams had been in the area for several days while the minister and other defense officials interviewed villagers.
Ukraine has reported suspected Russian missiles and drones flying over or crashing into neighbors, including NATO members, a handful of times since the start of the war, most notably in November, when a missile struck a farm in Poland, killing two people.
Polish officials later said it appeared to be unintentional and was probably launched by air defenses in Ukraine.
With Post wires
