NATO Scrambles German Jets After Large Russian Drone Strikes Near Romania, Ukraine

NATO scrambled two German Eurofighter Typhoon jets from the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in Romania in response to multiple Russian drone attacks targeting Ukrainian regions near the Danube River, close to NATO's border. The jets were deployed to monitor airspace after Romania's defense surveillance detected Russian drones striking Ukrainian ports and infrastructure, with no violations of Romanian airspace reported during these missions. The attacks caused significant damage across Ukraine, including injuries and fires in areas such as Izmail, Sumy, Donetsk, and Poltava, and included the launch of dozens of drones and missiles. These deployments are part of NATO’s ongoing air policing mission to secure its southeastern flank, involving rotating contributions from member states, with Germany currently providing fighter jets and personnel until March. The incidents underscore continued risks of spillover from the Russia-Ukraine conflict into neighboring NATO countries, as well as the strategic importance of monitoring and quickly responding to aerial threats near alliance borders. Romania and other NATO members remain vigilant, with previous similar deployments occurring earlier in August after large-scale Russian drone attacks.