Zelensky hits out at NATO after Russia's latest 'reckless' drone incursion

Volodymyr Zelensky warned the incursion into Romania by Russia was not a mistake (Image: Getty)

Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised NATO’s response to a Russian drone that violated Romanian airspace during an attack on Ukraine. The Ukrainian President said alliance fighter jets should’ve downed the drone before it left Romanian airspace towards Ukraine — days after Poland and NATO aircraft took out at least three Russian UAVs over Poland.

Mr Zelensky said the incidents are an “obvious expansion of the war by Russia”. He suggested NATO should meet threats head-on as he urged the alliance not to underestimate Moscow. He said the Russian military always calculates its drone flights, warning: “This cannot be a coincidence, a mistake, or the initiative of some lower-level commanders.”

Romanian F-16s were scrambled on Saturday night but decided to not shoot down the Russian drone (Image: Getty)

In a statement on X, he continued: “That is why action must always be preventive, based on the principle that there are no minor military threats from those who are accustomed to destroying the independence and lives of others.

“Russia is accustomed to this and must feel the consequences.”

“Do not wait for dozens of “shaheds” [Iranian-designed drones used by Russia] and ballistic missiles before finally making decisions,” he added.

Authorities in Poland after a drone fell (Image: Getty)

Romania’s defence ministry said the drone on Saturday night was identified as a Shahed by two F-16 jets near a village in the south-west of the country.

The aircraft had been scrambled to monitor Romania’s border following a Russian attack on “Ukrainian infrastructure on the Danube”.

The jets had permission to shoot down the drone but the pilots “assessed the collateral risks and decided not to open fire”, the defence ministry said.

It added the UAV did not pose imminent danger or fly over populated areas.

The incident was met with further condemnation following outrage over the incursion into Poland.

Kaja Kallas, Vice President of the European Commission, said it was "yet another unacceptable breach of an EU member state's sovereignty".

“This continued reckless escalation threatens regional security,” she said.

It is believed the drone flew some six miles into Romanian airspace and stayed for around 50 minutes.

Russia has not commented on the incident but claimed the drone incursion into Poland was a mistake — something Warsaw has rejected.

NATO has strengthened its eastern flank in the wake of the incident, while a close ally of Vladimir Putin said calls for a Western no-fly zone over Ukraine could trigger war between NATO and Russia.

Romania has recorded several Russian airspace violations during its bloody three-and-a-half year war in Ukraine.

Locals in the city of Galati, south-west Romania, close to the Ukraine border, told the Express in February that they often hear exploding Russian drones at night, with one saying “it is almost like normal”.