BUCHAREST, — Romania has declared a Russian diplomat persona non grata, ordering the official to leave the country within five days, while also recalling its ambassador from Moscow for consultations following repeated violations of Romanian airspace allegedly involving Russian drones.
According to a statement issued by Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the measures were taken in response to repeated incursions into Romanian airspace between July 24 and July 26, which Bucharest described as a serious threat to national and regional security.
During a meeting with the Russian ambassador, Romanian officials formally lodged a protest and presented drone debris recovered during official investigations. Authorities said prosecutors had confirmed the wreckage originated from Russian-made drones.
The Foreign Ministry stressed that repeated violations of Romania’s airspace—which is also part of NATO and European Union airspace—are “unacceptable” and held Russia fully responsible for the incidents and their implications for regional stability.
Romania also announced the recall of its ambassador from Russia for consultations, stating that it would continue close coordination with NATO allies and European Union partners while taking additional measures to safeguard its national security and protect its citizens.
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Earlier, Romanian authorities reported that three unauthorized drones had entered the country’s airspace and were subsequently intercepted and shot down.
The latest diplomatic move marks a further escalation in tensions between Romania and Russia, as security concerns continue to grow along NATO’s eastern flank amid the ongoing regional conflict.
