Russian Drones Reportedly Detonated on Romanian Territory During Ukrainian Port Attack, Romania Denies Claims
KYIV, Sept 4 (Reuters) – Ukraine has alleged that Russian drones fell and detonated on the territory of NATO member Romania during an overnight attack on Ukrainian port infrastructure on the Danube River. However, Bucharest has categorically denied these claims, creating conflicting accounts of the incident.
Reuters has been unable to independently verify either side’s version of events, but if true, this would mark a significant escalation in Russia’s 18-month-old war in Ukraine. Moscow has frequently carried out long-range air strikes on targets in Ukraine, which shares a border with Romania.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson, Oleg Nikolenko, wrote on Facebook, “According to Ukraine’s state border guard service, last night, during a massive Russian attack near the port of Izmail, Russian ‘Shakheds’ fell and detonated on the territory of Romania.” He added, “This is yet another confirmation that Russia’s missile terror poses a huge threat not only to Ukraine’s security but also to the security of neighboring countries, including NATO member states.”
However, the Romanian Defense Ministry swiftly issued a statement denying the Ukrainian assertion, firmly rejecting the claims made by Ukraine.
NATO, as a military alliance, has a collective defense commitment which means that an attack on one ally is considered an attack on all allies.
To support the Ukrainian claims, Nikolenko posted a photo showing the flames of an explosion on the opposite bank of the Danube River, which divides Ukraine’s Odesa region and Romanian territory. Furthermore, a Ukrainian industry source told Reuters that two Russian drones had fallen on the Romanian side.
The incident has prompted the Ukrainian president’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, to emphasize the need to increase supplies of modern air defense and long-range weapons. He wrote on the Telegram messaging app, “Additional weapons and long-range missiles for Ukraine – to speed up the de-occupation of our territories. Russia must be defeated on the battlefield.”
It is worth noting that Ukraine’s Danube ports, Reni and Izmail, accounted for approximately a quarter of its grain exports before Russia withdrew from a U.N.-backed deal that provided safe passage for the export of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea. Since then, the Danube ports have become Ukraine’s main route out, with grain being transported by barges to Romania’s Black Sea port of Constanta for further shipment.
The attack on Ukrainian port infrastructure occurred just hours before scheduled talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
Reporting by Pavel Polityuk and Olena Harmash; additional reporting by Luiza Ilie in Romania; Editing by Tom Balmforth and Timothy Heritage