Russian drone breaches Romanian airspace in second NATO incursion this week, as Zelensky calls it an ‘expansion of the war’

One of Vladimir Putin’s drones breached Romania’s airspace during a Russian attack on Ukraine Saturday — the second incursion of NATO country skies this week in what’s being called an escalation of the war.

Romania, which shares a 400-mile border with Ukraine, scrambled two fighter jets and warned residents in the southeast corner of the NATO member country to take cover.

The drone didn’t fly over inhabited areas, and no damage or injuries were reported, the Romanian defence ministry reported Saturday afternoon.

But the move was seen as a threat, with Putin testing the Western Alliance.

The drone penetrated 6 miles into Romanian territory and operated in NATO airspace for around 50 minutes, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“The Russian military knows exactly where their drones are headed and how long they can operate in the air. Their routes are always calculated. This cannot be a coincidence, a mistake, or the initiative of some lower-level commanders,” Zelensky said on X.

“It is an obvious expansion of the war by Russia – and this is exactly how they act. Small steps at first, and eventually big losses.”

Poland was forced to shoot down Russian drones that entered its airspace overnight Wednesday — in what the military called an “unprecedented” threat.

“I have no reason to claim we’re on the brink of war, but a line has been crossed, and it’s incomparably more dangerous than before,” said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

“This situation brings us the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two,” he ominously warned.

Thousands of Poles have signed up for voluntary military training as Poland’s army seeks to bolster its ranks amid fears over Russia’s military aggression.

With wires