Romania shot down a drone that entered its airspace from Moldova near Galați on August 16, 2026. The drone was detected by Romania’s Defence Ministry radar at 04:44 UTC approximately 24 km north of Galați and was engaged by a Spanish F-18 operating from Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base. The drone was shot down at 05:01 UTC with the wreckage impacting between Băleni and Cudalbi, Galați County. The drone reportedly flew along the Chilia branch of the Danube, crossing from Ukraine into Moldova and then entering Romanian airspace. Moldova’s Defence Ministry confirmed detection of a Shahed-138 (Geran-2) drone at 04:31 UTC that entered Moldovan airspace over Etulia in Gagauzia and left near Slobozia Mare heading toward Romania. Romanian Defence Minister Radu Miruță noted this was the third unmanned vehicle shot down in Romanian airspace in three weeks, amid recent drone incursions and debris discoveries. The incidents coincide with radar-monitored attacks involving over 100 drones targeting Ukrainian Danube ports to disrupt international food trade and Ukraine’s resilience.

Romania shot down a drone that entered its airspace from Moldova near Galați on August 16, 2026. The drone was detected by Romania’s Defence Ministry radar at 04:44 UTC approximately 24 km north of Galați and was engaged by a Spanish F-18 operating from Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base. The drone was shot down at 05:01 UTC with the wreckage impacting between Băleni and Cudalbi, Galați County. The drone reportedly flew along the Chilia branch of the Danube, crossing from Ukraine into Moldova and then entering Romanian airspace. Moldova’s Defence Ministry confirmed detection of a Shahed-138 (Geran-2) drone at 04:31 UTC that entered Moldovan airspace over Etulia in Gagauzia and left near Slobozia Mare heading toward Romania. Romanian Defence Minister Radu Miruță noted this was the third unmanned vehicle shot down in Romanian airspace in three weeks, amid recent drone incursions and debris discoveries. The incidents coincide with radar-monitored attacks involving over 100 drones targeting Ukrainian Danube ports to disrupt international food trade and Ukraine’s resilience.