Romania shoots down fourth Russian drone on national territory

17 August 2026 A drone entered the national airspace on the morning of August 16 from the Republic of Moldova, approximately 24 km north of Galati, the Ministry of Defence (MApN) announced, adding that the drone was shot down. Republic of Moldova confirmed that the drone was of type Shahed 138 (Geran 2) and it crossed its national territory coming from Ukraine’s territory. An F-18 aircraft of the Spanish Air and Space Forces, which was carrying out NATO Enhanced Air Policing missions from Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, intercepted and shot down, in coordination with the Romanian military in the command centre, under safe conditions, the drone that had entered Romanian airspace. It was the fourth Russian drone shot on Romanian territory, after a similar device hit an apartment building in Ga