Russia has dismissed Romania’s accusations that Russian unmanned aerial vehicles violated Romanian airspace, calling the allegations unfounded and politically motivated.
The statement follows Romania’s decision to summon Russia’s ambassador and expel a Russian diplomat over the alleged incident.
Moscow Denies Airspace Violation Claims
In a statement issued on July 28, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova rejected Romania’s allegations that Russian drones entered the country’s airspace.
Zakharova said Russia does not accept what she described as “baseless accusations,” arguing that the claims lack factual foundation.
Her comments came after Romanian authorities lodged a formal diplomatic protest concerning the alleged airspace breach.
Diplomatic Tensions Escalate
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Romanian officials summoned the Russian ambassador on July 27 and informed him of their allegations regarding the reported drone activity.
Moscow also confirmed that Romania announced the expulsion of a Russian diplomat as part of its response, a move that has further strained relations between the two countries.
Russia Blames Romania’s Support for Ukraine
Zakharova argued that the dispute reflects Romania’s broader policy of backing Ukraine during the ongoing war rather than any actions by Russia.
She accused Bucharest of using what she characterized as a coordinated political and media campaign to divert attention from what Moscow views as the consequences of Romania’s support for Kyiv.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Romania’s policies have negatively affected the country’s national security and economic well-being, claims for which no evidence was presented in the statement.
Moscow Claims Public Opinion Is Shifting
The Russian spokeswoman further asserted that an increasing number of Romanians are calling for a more pragmatic approach toward the conflict in Ukraine and their government‘s policies.
The statement did not cite polling data or other evidence to support that assertion.
Russia Signals Possible Retaliatory Measures
Concluding its statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry warned that Romania’s decision to expel a Russian diplomat would not go unanswered.
Moscow said Bucharest’s actions would receive an “appropriate response,” without specifying what measures Russia may take.
Romanian authorities have maintained that Russian drones violated their airspace, while Russia continues to deny the allegation. The competing claims have not been independently verified.
