A Romanian military aircraft shot down a Ukrainian drone in Estonian airspace. The unmanned aircraft was not directed towards this country.
The operation took place on Tuesday, around 11:00, according to hotnews.ro. Two F-16 aircraft from the Carpathian Vipers Detachment were lifted into the air by the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC), following an alert.
The pilots identified the target and went through all the identification, approval, and risk minimization procedures, after which they launched an air-to-air missile and shot down the drone.
Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu exchanged messages with her Estonian counterpart, in context.
“The Minister of Defense called Radu Miruță to thank him for Romania’s contribution. It is an example of our pilots’ performance. In this case, a Romanian F-16 pilot. It is a clear example of our ability to ensure collective security,” the head of Romanian diplomacy told the press.
Most likely, the drone was a stray one. Currently, its remains are being searched for, and the Ukrainian Minister of Defense has been informed from Tallinn that he does not have permission to use Estonian airspace for operations.
“We are still investigating the exact circumstances, but the contact occurred somewhere above Lake Võrtsjärv, and I believe we have now identified the location of the debris, which might be on land, not above Lake Võrtsjärv,” said the Estonian Minister of Defense, Hanno Pevkur.