Russian drones heighten tensions in Eastern Europe

Recent incidents involving Russian drones have heightened tensions in Eastern Europe, particularly concerning airspace violations in Moldova and Romania. On February 13, 2025, Russian Shahed drones, designed in Iran, crashed in both countries during an attack on Ukraine’s Danube port. Moldovan President Maia Sandu condemned the violations, emphasizing the threat posed to Moldovan lives, as drones impacted fields in southern Moldova. The Moldovan foreign ministry labeled these actions as threats to national security and responded by terminating a cultural agreement with Russia.

In Romania, a NATO member, the military deployed F-16 jets in response to the airspace breach and discovered drone fragments near Reni, identified as Russian Shahed drones. These incidents have been widely criticized as violations of international law.