DISINFO: The drone in Romania is not Russian, it is a Ukrainian provocation
SUMMARY
The drone that entered Romanian airspace on 13 September 2025 was not Russian. It was a Ukrainian provocation. Ukraine deliberately staged it in an attempt to turn European countries against Russia. There is no evidence that it was Russian.
RESPONSE
This is a pro-Kremlin disinformation claim that ignores verified facts. This claim was made in the context of a Russian drone that entered Romanian airspace on 13 September 2025.
Romania’s Ministry of Defence officially identified the drone as a Geran model used by the Russian military, and Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu confirmed that Ukraine does not possess this type of drone. The incident was documented by NATO radar systems and by Romania’s own air-defence network. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, condemned the Russian drone violation of Romanian airspace and said it was “yet another unacceptable violation of the sovereignty of an EU member state,” adding: “This continued reckless escalation threatens regional security.”
It is not the first time when Russia has illegally entered foreign airspace. A large-scale Russian drone attack was registered over Poland the night of 9-10 September 2025. Russian drones and missiles have strayed off course (either accidentally or not) and violated the airspace of Poland and 2023 and 2024, as well as Moldova and Romania in 2025.
The claim that the drone attack was staged disregards Russia’s long history of aggression against its neighbours. It fits the recognised pattern of Russian aggression and hybrid warfare targeting its neighbours, including previous unprovoked invasions of Ukraine in 2014 and 2022, Georgia in 2008. Russian officials and state media have issued repeated threats against Europe and the US, alongside numerous cyberattacks, election interference, sabotage, espionage, and disinformation campaigns across Europe.
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