Romania expels Russian diplomat in protest of airspace breaches

Vladimir Lipaev, Russian ambassador to Romania, is shown fragments of drones downed on Romanian territory summoned at the Romanian Foreign Ministry in Bucharest, Romania in this handout image released on July 27, 2026. Romanian Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS

MOSCOW, July ⁠27 (Reuters) - Romania's foreign ⁠ministry said on Monday ‌it had expelled a diplomat at Russia's embassy after ​repeated violations of ⁠its national airspace ⁠by drones, saying it ⁠had notified ‌the ambassador over its ⁠decision.

Romanian F-16 fighter jet pilots ​shot ‌down three drones in ⁠as many ​days from Friday as Russia intensifies attacks ⁠against neighbouring Ukraine.

The ​Russian embassy in Romania rejected what it called "unfounded accusations", ⁠saying Russia had never directed drones at targets in Romania.

The embassy ​also signalled ⁠that Moscow would take ​retaliatory measures.

(Reporting ‌by Luiza IlieAdditional ​reporting by Maxim RodionovEditing by Susan Fenton)