Between 10 and 14 August 2026, Romanian authorities detected over 100 drones near Romanian territory, triggering NATO fighter jets to scramble seven times in air-policing missions, as confirmed by Romanian Defense Minister Radu Miruță via Antena 3 CNN. Romania has experienced a surge in drone incursions linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine, particularly around the Black Sea and Danube ports. Recently, Romania moved from escorting drones to actively destroying drones that enter its airspace, including shooting down three drones with F-16 fighters in late July, one identified as a Russian Shahed-type attack drone. Romanian President Nicușor Dan condemned these airspace violations as inadmissible and prepared diplomatic protests to Moscow. On 11 August, Romanian forces destroyed two Russian Gerbera-type drones found drifting near the Neptun Deep offshore gas project in the Black Sea following confirmation they were not Ukrainian. Romanian Defense Minister Miruță stated that most drones were downed by Ukrainian air defenses before debris reached Romanian shores. This ongoing drone activity is part of Russia's broader hybrid and conventional campaign affecting NATO’s eastern flank. Additionally, on 14 August, a NATO fighter downed a foreign drone in Latvian airspace following Russian electronic warfare interference. These repeated airspace violations underscore the escalating hybrid warfare threat posed by Russia along NATO borders.

Between 10 and 14 August 2026, Romanian authorities detected over 100 drones near Romanian territory, triggering NATO fighter jets to scramble seven times in air-policing missions, as confirmed by Romanian Defense Minister Radu Miruță via Antena 3 CNN. Romania has experienced a surge in drone incursions linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine, particularly around the Black Sea and Danube ports. Recently, Romania moved from escorting drones to actively destroying drones that enter its airspace, including shooting down three drones with F-16 fighters in late July, one identified as a Russian Shahed-type attack drone. Romanian President Nicușor Dan condemned these airspace violations as inadmissible and prepared diplomatic protests to Moscow. On 11 August, Romanian forces destroyed two Russian Gerbera-type drones found drifting near the Neptun Deep offshore gas project in the Black Sea following confirmation they were not Ukrainian. Romanian Defense Minister Miruță stated that most drones were downed by Ukrainian air defenses before debris reached Romanian shores. This ongoing drone activity is part of Russia's broader hybrid and conventional campaign affecting NATO’s eastern flank. Additionally, on 14 August, a NATO fighter downed a foreign drone in Latvian airspace following Russian electronic warfare interference. These repeated airspace violations underscore the escalating hybrid warfare threat posed by Russia along NATO borders.