The Russian ambassador, summoned to the MFA after the case of the drone in Tulcea, “a violation of Romania's sovereignty”. The possibility of sanctions was circulated

The Russian ambassador to Bucharest, Vladimir Lipaev, was summoned on Friday to the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where “he was presented with tangible, ample and solid evidence of the violation of Romania's airspace” by a drone of the Russian forces during the night of November 10 to 11, announced the MAE, which says that the Romanian side “expressed its firm protest against this unacceptable and irresponsible act”.

• The Russian Embassy in Bucharest had a first public reaction on Friday evening after the decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon Ambassador Lipaev and claims that the Romanian side's approach was “a theatrical action” and the accusations of violation of the airspace are “absurd and unfounded”.

The MAE said that the “fragments recovered by the Romanian authorities” from the place where the drone crashed “undoubtedly prove its membership”, as well as “the involvement in the massive attacks that night against the Ukrainian civilian infrastructure located near the border with Romania”.

“The Romanian side expressed, during the convocation of the ambassador of the Russian Federation, its firm protest against this unacceptable and irresponsible act, which represents a violation of Romania's sovereignty,” the MFA press release states.

What the MAE representatives said about the possibility of sanctions

The Romanian side drew the Russian ambassador's “attention to the repetition of these situations, which constitute risks of particular gravity for the safety of Romanian citizens, as well as for the security of Romania and the region”.

“He once again firmly condemned the illegal and irresponsible attacks against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure in the vicinity of the border with Romania and recalled the exclusive responsibility of the Russian Federation for the ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine,” the statement added.

According to the MAE, it was also mentioned that “Romania has the right to take the necessary legal measures to protect its citizens and territory, including through the entire spectrum of political instruments, including through sanctions.”

“Despite the irresponsible and illegal action of the Russian Federation, at no time were the citizens of Romania in the flyover area in direct and imminent danger. Romania and the Allies have the capabilities and the framework of action to manage any risk situation. Romania is in permanent contact with its Allies and the other EU members on these subjects”, concluded the MFA.

The head of the Army, about the downed drone: “If that was the case, that target was fought”

Speaking about the case of the drone that fell on the night of Monday to Tuesday in the area of ​​Grindu, Tulcea county, General Gheorghiță Vlad said on Thursday that it “did not enter the range of the combat system and, as a result, could not be combated”.

“It is an organized combat device in that area. In that firing position, in that direction, there was no threat. I said and I repeat it, as always, we have a very large area to cover from the point of view of air defense. As a result, we are focusing on the protection of populated areas,” explained the Chief of Staff of the National Defense, in Poligonul Cincu, according to Agerpres.

General Gheorghiță Vlad specified that the current legislation allows the decentralization of the decision to combat a possible aerial target, up to the level of the unit commander.

“So, if that was the case, that target was combated. It fell at a sufficiently large distance, so that it could not be combated by the respective anti-aircraft system,” the head of the Romanian Army also said.