During Russia’s large-scale drone and missile attack on Ukraine on the morning of 25 November, both Moldova and Romania reported multiple airspace violations by Russian UAVs. Six drones entered Moldova, one of which landed on a residential rooftop. Romania detected at least two separate airspace intrusions and deployed fighter jets in response.
Ukrainian military first warned of drone incursions
At 07:44, Ukraine’s Air Force reported several Russian drones flying in Odesa Oblast near the Moldovan border and noted a possible state border crossing. By 07:50, they reported that at least one Russian drone had likely entered Romanian airspace.
Moldova confirms six drones crossed airspace, one crashed onto house
Moldova’s Defense Ministry stated that six Russian drones entered the country’s airspace between the night of 24 November and the morning of 25 November. The first was detected flying from Vinogradovca–Vulcănești toward the Romanian border in Cahul district, at an altitude of around 1,500 meters. Then five more UAVs were tracked over Moldova.
Militarnyi later identified the crashed drone as a Gerbera model based on an image released by police.
Romanian radars tracked two incursions, jets scrambled
Romania’s Defense Ministry reported that early on 25 November, military radars detected an aerial target heading toward Romanian airspace from the direction of Vilkovo, Ukraine, into Tulcea county. At 06:28, two German Eurofighter Typhoons took off from Mihail Kogălniceanu airbase. Ro-Alert warnings were issued in Tulcea at 06:55. At 07:11, one of the jets established radar contact with the drone, which was then flying over Ukrainian territory. Romania is a NATO member state.
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At 07:37, two Romanian F-16s were launched in response to a second suspected incursion. Ro-Alert warnings followed at 07:48 in Galați county. By 07:50, Romanian radar picked up a second airspace violation, and an F-16 confirmed contact with the object.
"Whether fighter jets or air-defense systems shot down Russian drones over Romanian territory is currently unknown," Militarnyi noted.
Chișinău urges vigilance, Bucharest informed immediately
Moldovan authorities called on citizens to report any sightings of drones or suspicious objects and to avoid touching any debris. TV8 reported that Romania was immediately notified by Chișinău about the drone flights. State institutions in both countries continued monitoring and applying procedural checks in the affected areas.
Moldova saw earlier drone incursion just a week ago
Russian drones have repeatedly breached the airspace of Romania and Moldova during attacks on Ukraine. TV8 recalled that a similar drone crossed into Moldova on the night of 18–19 November. It was detected by Romanian air defense and reportedly flew across the Prut River. That same night, German and Romanian fighter jets scrambled to intercept Russian drones that had entered Romanian airspace, Militarnyi wrote.
