By Trendsetter Tribune 
Romania deployed F-16 fighter jets after detecting Russian drones near Ukrainian ports, highlighting NATO’s heightened vigilance along its eastern border amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Romania deployed two F-16 fighter jets after detecting Russian drones launched toward Ukrainian ports close to its border, raising security concerns along NATO’s eastern flank amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The Romanian Ministry of National Defense reported that its surveillance systems identified aerial drones targeting Ukrainian locations along the Danube River, near Romanian territory. While no NATO airspace was breached, the jets were sent up as a precautionary measure.
“At around 11:50 a.m., two F-16 fighter aircraft from the 86th Air Base in Fetești were deployed to monitor the border area in northern Tulcea County. By 12:00 p.m., the local population received an alert via the RO-Alert system. The alert ended at 12:22 p.m. No unauthorized intrusions into Romanian airspace were recorded during the mission,” the ministry said in a statement.
Officials emphasized that the deployment was strictly for monitoring purposes and did not trigger NATO’s collective defense measures under Article 5 of the alliance’s treaty.
Rising Tensions in Ukraine
The drone activity coincided with renewed attacks in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned a Russian missile strike on Kharkiv, describing it as “heinous” and highlighting civilian suffering. Images shared on social media showed significant damage to residential buildings, with rescue operations underway. Zelensky stated that preliminary reports indicated casualties, though exact numbers remain unclear.
“This is how the Russians treat life and people — they continue killing despite diplomatic efforts,” Zelensky said. “It is only Russia that does not want this war to end and continues to escalate the conflict.”
The developments followed Russian claims that Ukrainian forces killed 24 people during New Year celebrations in a village in the Kherson region. Kyiv dismissed the allegations, calling them a provocation and insisting that only Russian military or infrastructure targets were struck.
In his New Year address, Zelensky noted that a peace agreement is “90 percent ready” but warned that unresolved issues could determine the future of Ukraine and Europe.
NATO on Alert
The incident underscores the heightened vigilance of NATO countries along the eastern border. While Romania confirmed no violation of its airspace, the rapid deployment of fighter jets illustrates the alliance’s ongoing focus on monitoring and defending against potential threats from the conflict in Ukraine.
Romania’s actions demonstrate NATO’s readiness to respond quickly to regional tensions while avoiding escalation, highlighting the delicate balance between defense measures and maintaining international stability.