Romanian Air Force F-16 fighter jets shot down a drone that entered Romania's territorial waters in the Sulina – Chilia area on Sunday morning at 10:13 AM. It is the third such incident in three consecutive days, following the downing of two drones on Friday in Buzău County and on Saturday in Tulcea County.

All three drones were destroyed in less than 48 hours, between Friday at 11:02 AM and Sunday at 10:13 AM, Romanian military authorities told the press.

On Sunday morning, authorities issued a new RO-Alert emergency message for the northern part of Tulcea County at 10:16 AM. Residents were urged to take shelter in basements due to the possible fall of objects from the airspace.

Romanian President Nicușor Dan congratulated the pilots: "Through their action, they contribute to the defense of the national territory and to the safety of Romanian citizens."

Interim Defense Minister Radu Miruță said the drone on Sunday was detected outside the national airspace and entered Romanian territorial waters at 10:08 AM, being shot down five minutes later, in safe conditions, over the Black Sea.

Reaction from Chișinău

As of the time of publication, no official statement had been issued by Moldovan President Maia Sandu regarding Sunday's incident.

Her last reaction to a similar case came after the Russian drone crash in Galați at the end of May. At that time, the head of state firmly condemned "the Russian drone attack that hit Romanian civilians in their own homes in Galați" and expressed her solidarity with Romania.

In a recent statement about the drone threat, Maia Sandu said: "If a drone falls on you, nothing else matters," criticizing those who treat lightly the more than 50 illegal violations of Moldova's airspace.

The Moldovan Presidency previously announced that the Republic of Moldova is learning from Ukraine and is considering the production of interceptor drones to strengthen its anti-drone system.