URGENT UPDATE: NATO aircraft have been scrambled in response to a significant wave of Russian drone strikes targeting Ukraine overnight. As of August 15, 2023, two German fighter jets were dispatched to the Romanian-Ukrainian border following a reported launch of 93 drones and 2 ballistic missiles by Russian forces, according to Romania’s Defense Ministry.
The Ukrainian air force confirmed that 62 drones and one missile were successfully shot down or suppressed during the attack, which impacted 20 locations across the country. The severity of the assault was highlighted by Ukrainian regional authorities, including Oleg Kiper, who reported drone strikes on infrastructure and production facilities in Izmail, a critical port city on the Danube River. Fires erupted from the strikes, resulting in injuries to at least one person.
In response to this escalating threat, Romania’s Defense Ministry announced the deployment of the German Air Force Typhoon fighters to monitor the air situation around the border region of Tulcea County. These aircraft are part of NATO’s Enhanced Air Policing mission initiated in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, underscoring the ongoing tensions along NATO’s eastern flank.
“Our aerial surveillance system identified groups of drones launched by the Russian Federation targeting Ukrainian ports,” stated Romania’s Defense Ministry in a social media post. “During the mission, there were no penetrations of aircraft in the national airspace.”
The situation remains critical as NATO continues to bolster its defensive posture in light of Russia’s aggressive military actions. Previous incidents have seen Russian drones and missiles breach NATO airspace, with remnants found in Romania, Lithuania, and Latvia. Concerns are mounting as Russian missile fragments have also been discovered in neighboring Moldova, which, though not a NATO member, shares a border with Ukraine.
Air travel disruptions were reported in Russia as temporary flight restrictions were enacted at airports in Volgograd, Saratov, Samara, Tambov, and Nizhny Novgorod during the overnight strikes. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have downed at least 42 Ukrainian drones during the same timeframe.
This latest attack marks one of the most significant escalations in hostilities since the beginning of the month and follows a troubling trend of increased Russian military activity near NATO borders. As international concerns grow, the world watches closely for further developments.
Stay tuned for more updates as this situation unfolds.
