NATO scrambles jets after Russian drones strike near Romania

NATO scrambled two German fighter jets from a Romanian base overnight after Russian drones struck Ukrainian targets along the Danube River, near NATO’s border, Romania’s Defense Ministry said. Ukraine’s military said Russia launched 93 drones and two ballistic missiles overnight, striking 20 locations nationwide.

The air force reported it intercepted 62 drones and one missile.

Why NATO responded

Romania’s Defense Ministry said its “aerial surveillance system” detected Russian drones attacking Ukrainian ports along the river. Romania deployed two German Typhoons from Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base. The move was part of NATO’s policing mission to oversee air activity in Tulcea County.

Officials stressed no Russian aircraft entered Romanian airspace. They said the German jets landed safely back at base around 1:10 a.m. local time.

Damage inside Ukraine

Ukrainian authorities said drones struck infrastructure and production facilities in Izmail, a key river port across from Romania. Oleg Kiper, head of the Odesa regional administration, said at least one person was injured in the attack.

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said the overnight strikes caused casualties and widespread destruction across several regions. In Sumy, drones left at least 14 people injured, including three children. Meanwhile, rescue teams pulled survivors from rubble and extinguished multiple fires.

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Officials also reported one person died and several were injured in Donetsk, where apartment blocks and businesses were damaged. Additionally, there were large-scale blazes at industrial facilities in Poltava. Shelling in other areas, including Kharkiv, destroyed private homes and set off additional fires.

The attack came just a day after what Ukrainian officials called Russia’s largest strike of the month — an overnight barrage on Tuesday involving 270 drones and 10 missiles.

How common are NATO scrambles?

NATO has routinely scrambled aircraft in Poland and Romania since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The missions are part of an air policing effort that began after Moscow seized Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine in 2014.

Romania’s Defense Ministry said the German jets were deployed strictly for monitoring, with no hostile contact. NATO often activates aircraft when Russia strikes near alliance borders.

In past incidents, Russian drones and missiles have entered NATO airspace. Separately, several NATO countries have found Russian munition fragments. These countries include Romania, Lithuania and Latvia.

How did Russia describe the attacks?

Moscow’s Defense Ministry said it intercepted and destroyed 42 Ukrainian drones overnight. In a statement, the ministry said the downed drones were over nine distinct regions, including 14 over Voronezh and 8 over Tambov.