The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on 27/7 that it had summoned Russian Ambassador Vladimir Lipaev. During the meeting, Lipaev was informed of the decision to declare one member of the Russian mission in Bucharest "persona non grata" and was asked to leave Romanian territory within 5 days.

Ambassador Lipaev was also shown debris from the first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) shot down by an F-16 fighter jet on 24/7. Romanian officials stated that an investigation confirmed the UAV was a "Shahed model" of Russian origin.

Russian Ambassador Vladimir Lipaev examines debris from a downed UAV on Romanian territory during his summons at the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest on 27/7. Anh: Reuters

An investigation into two other UAVs shot down on 25-26/7 is currently underway. A senior NATO military spokesperson indicated that one of these two also appeared to be "of Russian origin".

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs "resolutely rejected these baseless accusations", characterizing Romania's action as a "new staged propaganda".

"There is no evidence that these UAVs originated from Russia," the ministry stated, while criticizing Romania's support for Ukraine as "unacceptable".

Location of Romania. Do hoa: BBC

Russia warned that "this baseless expulsion of a diplomat will be met with a response".

Romania has recorded dozens of airspace violations and UAV crashes since Russia launched its conflict in Ukraine in late February 2022. The Romanian Ministry of National Defense reported that in the most recent airspace violation on 27/7, a UAV briefly entered the country's airspace.

In the most serious incident in 5/2026, a UAV crashed into an apartment building in the city of Galati, near the border with Ukraine, injuring two people.

Thanh Tam (According to AFP, Reuters)