Ukraine, Romania coordinate air defense as Russian drones target border regions

Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi conducted a phone conversation with Romanian Armed Forces Defense Staff Chief General Gheorghiță Vlad, focusing on coordinated responses to Russian aerial threats crossing the Ukrainian-Romanian border.

The Ukrainian military leader briefed his Romanian counterpart on "the current situation in combat areas and key needs of Ukraine's Armed Forces," according to Syrskyi's Telegram announcement.

The commanders addressed "issues of mutual interest, particularly regarding joint counteraction to threats related to the crossing of the Ukrainian-Romanian border by air attack means of the aggressor country," according to the statement.

Syrskyi expressed gratitude for Romania's military assistance to Ukrainian forces. "I thanked General Gheorghiță Vlad on behalf of Romania's leadership and the entire Romanian people for steadfast political support of Ukraine and military aid to our state, long-term cooperation in the interests of Ukraine's defense and protection of democracy in Europe and the world," the commander said.

The conversation follows recent high-level defense coordination between the two nations. Ukrainian Defense Minister Denis Shmygal met with Romanian Deputy Prime Minister and National Defense Minister Liviu-Ionuț Moșteanu in Kyiv, where officials agreed to strengthen coordination between their air forces.

Romania demonstrated this coordination in August when it scrambled F-16 fighters in response to Russian attacks on southern Ukrainian regions, according to the report.

The discussion comes amid broader regional security concerns. Polish and Ukrainian General Staff chiefs recently established information-sharing protocols for air threats after Russian drones violated Polish airspace on 10 September, Apostrophe reports.