BUCHAREST, June 30 (Reuters) – Romania’s defence ministry said on Tuesday it safely detonated drone fragments found in the southeastern village of Rachelu, near the border with Ukraine, part of debris linked to a Russian attack on Ukrainian port infrastructure in April.
EU and NATO member Romania, which shares a 650-km (400-mile) land border with Ukraine, said Russian drones have breached its airspace 29 times since Moscow began attacking Ukrainian ports across the Danube River following its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Fifteen of those incursions have occurred this year alone. In late May, one drone crashed into an apartment building, injuring two people, the first time a densely populated area in a NATO country had been hit and caused injuries during Russia’s war in Ukraine.
On Thursday, the Romanian defence ministry said a local resident had reported the drone fragments, which contained explosives and had to be detonated at the site.
Romania has asked NATO allies to deploy additional anti-drone capabilities to Romania, particularly low-altitude radars and interceptor drones.
Earlier this month, the defence ministry said it had integrated the U.S.-developed Merops interceptor drone system into its national air defences.
Romania is also set to boost its air defences via the EU’s new SAFE rearmament initiative.
(Reporting by Luiza IlieEditing by Ros Russell)
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