German Jets Mobilized in Response to Russian Drone Strikes on Ukraine
Two German fighter jets were activated and dispatched to the border between Romania and Ukraine in reaction to a series of Russian drone strikes that took place in the border region. This information was shared by Romania's Defense Ministry.
Overnight Attacks from Russia
Reports from Ukraine's air force indicate that the Russian side launched a total of 93 drones and two ballistic missiles into Ukrainian territory overnight. Of the total, 62 drones and one missile were successfully intercepted or neutralized. These drone and missile strikes affected 20 different locations across the country.
The leader of the Odesa region, Oleg Kiper, stated that the city of Izmail, situated on the Danube river and on the boundary with Romania — a member of NATO, suffered hits to infrastructure and production facilities due to the drone attacks. Fires broke out at the attack sites, and at least one person was injured, as per Kiper.
German Fighters on Alert
These attacks led to the quick deployment of two German Air Force Typhoon fighters to "keep an eye on the air situation in the border region with Ukraine, in the north of Tulcea County," according to a statement from Romania's Defense Ministry.
These German aircraft are currently stationed in Romania as part of NATO's Enhanced Air Policing missions. This initiative was started after Russia took over Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine in 2014.
Romania's Surveillance System
Romania's "aerial surveillance system" detected "groups of drones launched by the Russian Federation that targeted Ukrainian ports on the Danube," as per the ministry. "During the mission, there were no intrusions of aircraft into the national airspace."
In NATO nations like Poland and Romania, allied aircraft are frequently activated in response to Russian long-distance attacks in Ukraine. These attacks often target areas along Ukraine's border with its NATO neighbors.
Past Incidents and Russian Response
In the past, Russian drones and missiles have entered NATO airspace. Crashed Russian ammunition or fragments thereof have been discovered in Romania, Lithuania, and Latvia. Russian missile fragments have also been found in Moldova, which shares its southwestern border with Ukraine, but is not a NATO member. Poland, another NATO member, has also reported several violations of its airspace by Russian missiles and drones.
On the other hand, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed that its forces had successfully shot down at least 42 Ukrainian drones from the night into the early morning.
Flight Restrictions in Russia
Temporary restrictions on flights were set up at airports in Volgograd, Saratov, Samara, Tambov, and Nizhny Novgorod due to the overnight strikes, as per Russia's federal air agency.