Romania / 2025-09-13-ro-1
airspace incident: From Chilia Veche to Pardina, Tulcea County (2025-09-13)
/ date of the event
What happened
A Russian drone was detected in Romanian airspace; two F-16s were scrambled at 18:05 and intercepted it, tracking it for about 50 minutes from Chilia Veche to Pardina where it crossed into Ukraine. Permission to shoot it down was granted but the pilots decided against opening fire to avoid potential collateral damage.
The word "Russian" in this description comes from the source's account of where the object was made or what type it is. It is not a finding about who sent it or on whose orders. This record carries no assessment of responsibility: see the attribution band below.
Responsibility and limits of the evidence
not assessed
Nobody has yet assessed responsibility for this record. Not assessed is not the same as not established.
Impact
- killed
- not established
- injured
- not established
- damage
- not established
pending editorial review
Source discrepancy
Following a combined source, the description mentions the closure of Lublin airport. That effect is on the Polish side, in a different country from this record, so it is not entered here as a disruption: it would land in Romania's totals. To be separated when the Polish events of September 2025 are worked up.
Sources
- Naruszenia przestrzeni powietrznej nieobjętej działaniami wojennymi podczas wojny rosyjsko-ukraińskiej
pl.wikipedia.org / secondary source
supports: the record
- Violations of non-combatant airspace during the Russo-Ukrainian war (2022-present)
en.wikipedia.org / secondary source
supports: the record