On the night of August 5-6, Romania’s Ministry of National Defense (MApN) confirmed that Russian forces launched a drone attack on the Ismail area, Ukraine, near its border with Romania. The strike targeted oil and gas pipelines at the Orlivka plant in Odesa, Ukraine, causing bright orange flames and plumes of smoke visible across the Danube River. The attack triggered Romania’s emergency warning system, RO-Alert, which alerted the northern population of the region. In response, Romania’s military scrambled two F-16 fighter jets to monitor the national airspace, though no unauthorized intrusions were detected. The ministry stated it will conduct further checks and keep NATO allies updated in real time.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of Russian aggression, with similar drone attacks reported in Lithuania, where drones from Putin’s ally Belarus crossed into its territory. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys expressed concern over the spillover effect of Russia’s war on Ukraine into NATO territory, emphasizing the urgency of maintaining the alliance’s security and integrity. He stated,