Romania scrambles jets after Russian drone 'breaches airspace' - as Zelenskyy warns of war 'expansion'

Romania has said a drone breached its airspace during a Russian attack on neighbouring Ukraine.

Fighter jets were scrambled on Saturday, coming close to taking down the aircraft as it was flying very low before it left national airspace toward Ukraine, defence minister Ionut Mosteanu said. Romania is the latest NATO member state to report an incursion, with Poland deploying aircraft and closing an airport in the eastern city of Lublin on Saturday, three days after it shot down Russian drones in its airspace.

They are the first known shots fired by a member of the Western alliance during Russia's war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, military exercises are taking place over the Barents Sea, with Russia and Belarus conducting joint drills.

Russian MiG-31 fighter jets equipped with hypersonic ballistic missiles completed a four-hour flight over the neutral waters as part of ongoing "Zapad 2025" military exercises, the Interfax news agency reported on Saturday. Romania has had Russian drone fragments fall on to its territory repeatedly since Russia began waging its full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago.

Two F-16 fighter jets were initially scrambled by Romania, and later two Eurofighters. Citizens in the southeastern county of Tulcea near the Danube and its Ukrainian border were warned to take cover, the defence ministry said.

The ministry said the drone dropped off their radar 20km (12 miles) southwest of the village of Chilia Veche. While helicopters were surveying the area looking for possible drone parts, Mr Mosteanu told private television station Antena 3 that "all information at this moment indicates the drone exited airspace to Ukraine".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media that data showed the drone breached about 10km (six miles) into Romanian territory and operated in NATO airspace for around 50 minutes. He said Belarusian airspace was also used for entry into Ukraine's airspace.

Mr Zelenskyy described the reported incursion as "an obvious expansion of the war by Russia," and called for "tariffs against Russian trade" and a "collective defence". He warned: "Do not wait for dozens of "shaheds" [Iranian-designed drones] and ballistic missiles before finally making decisions." NATO has said it plans to strengthen eastern flank defence, following earlier Polish airspace violations.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio called the Polish incursion "unacceptable and unfortunate and dangerous.