Romania’s defense ministry reported that a small flying object, likely a drone, entered its airspace late Thursday in Tulcea County, approximately 6 kilometers inland. The incursion occurred near the southeastern border with Ukraine, a region that has experienced multiple incidents involving Russian drone fragments amid Moscow’s attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.

The object was first detected by radar at 7:04 PM GMT, about 15 kilometers east of Chilia Veche, a village close to the Ukrainian border. Romania, a NATO and European Union member, shares a 650-kilometer border with Ukraine, placing it on heightened alert since the conflict escalated.

The defense ministry immediately warned local residents to take shelter and prepared fighter jets for deployment. However, radar systems lost track of the object five minutes later at 7:09 PM GMT. Officials stated there was no evidence of the object impacting Romanian territory.

This marks the latest in a series of aerial incidents. In October, Romanian radar systems detected multiple drone-like signals over consecutive days, though fighter jets failed to locate any objects visually, and no crash sites were found. Authorities suggested those breaches could have involved cyber interference targeting radar systems.

The incident highlights the persistent security challenges faced by Romania due to its proximity to the Ukrainian conflict. Officials have emphasized continued vigilance and monitoring as aerial threats in the region remain a pressing concern.