Alperen Aktas
22 October 2025•Update: 22 October 2025
ISTANBUL
Romania deployed four fighter jets overnight to patrol its airspace after Russian forces carried out a large-scale attack on Ukraine’s southern regions near the Romanian border, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.
According to a ministry statement, surveillance systems detected a group of aerial targets moving toward the Kiliya Arm and the Danube Delta area.
Two F-16 aircraft from the 86th Borcha Air Base were scrambled around 00:50 local time (2150GMT) to monitor the situation, followed by two Eurofighter Typhoon jets from the 57th Mihail Kogelniceanu Air Base at 02:35 (2335GMT) for enhanced air patrol missions.
The ministry said approximately 10 explosions occurred on Ukrainian territory near the settlements of Izmail and Kiliya in the Odesa region, though no drones entered Romanian airspace.
“The mission commander was authorized to engage any air targets that might enter Romanian territory and pose a threat to our citizens,” the statement said.
Officials from the Defense and Internal Affairs Ministries, as well as Romanian intelligence, will assess the Romanian side of the Danube to determine any potential damage or debris caused by the strikes.
The Defense Ministry strongly condemned Russia’s attack, calling it a violation of international law.
“Such incidents demonstrate Russia’s disrespect for international law and endanger not only the safety of Romanian citizens but also the collective security of NATO,” it said.
“Romania remains committed to fulfilling its obligations as an Alliance member and will continue to work closely with partners and allies to monitor and protect national airspace.”
Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian attacks hit several Ukrainian regions, including Kyiv, Odesa, Chernihiv, Dnipro, Kirovohrad, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, Cherkasy, and Sumy.
According to the president, at least six people were killed and 17 injured during the overnight attacks.
