NATO allies Poland and Romania scrambled fighter jets on Saturday in response to Russian drone and missile attacks in Ukraine. This action comes as the alliance seeks to enhance its defensive measures against repeated violations of airspace by Russian munitions.

The Polish military reported no airspace violations occurred on Saturday after deploying jets along the border with Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated on social media that defenses were at their highest state of readiness due to the threat posed by Russian drones operating near the Polish border.

In Romania, however, a Russian drone did breach national airspace. The Romanian Defense Ministry confirmed that two F-16 fighters were dispatched to monitor the situation after Russian air attacks targeted Ukrainian infrastructure along the Danube River, which forms the border between Romania and Ukraine. The ministry reported that the drone was tracked until it disappeared from radar approximately 20 kilometers southwest of Chilia Veche. Officials noted that the drone did not fly over populated areas and posed no immediate danger to the public.

The Romanian Defense Ministry indicated that preliminary reports suggested the drone returned to Ukraine. A search team was sent to look for potential debris. This incident marked the eleventh violation of Romanian airspace by Russian drones since the onset of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A ministry spokesperson revealed that there had been around 50 drone attacks on Ukrainian territory near Romania's borders, with 30 instances of drone debris landing in Romania.

Romanian Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu condemned Russia's actions, stating they threaten regional stability. He emphasized that Romania, in collaboration with NATO allies, remains vigilant and prepared to defend its airspace. Despite the violations, Romania has not yet shot down any Russian drones. The first instance of NATO nations downing drones occurred last week when Polish and Dutch fighters destroyed three Russian drones over Poland.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the situation, stating that the Russian drone that entered Romanian airspace traveled about six miles into the country and operated there for approximately 50 minutes. He asserted that the Russian military is aware of the drones' paths and operational times, suggesting that these incursions are deliberate expansions of the conflict.

In a broader context, Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 58 drones and one missile into Ukraine overnight into Sunday, with air defenses managing to down or suppress 52 of those drones. Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have downed at least 85 Ukrainian drones during the same period.

The situation has prompted discussions among NATO members about enhancing air defense capabilities. Following the recent drone incursions, NATO initiated a mission called "Eastern Sentry" to strengthen the alliance's eastern flank. This mission includes contributions from Denmark, France, and Germany, aimed at reinforcing airspace security in response to the ongoing threats from Russia.