Date of update: 09/09/2023 18:09 Date of publication: 09/09/2023 16:57
The army found fragments of Russian drones on Romanian territory, 2.5 kilometers from Plauru. PHOTO: Inquam Photos
The Ministry of National Defense announced that the military found fragments of a drone similar to those used by the Russian army on Saturday, approximately 2.5 kilometers southeast of the town of Plauru in Tulcea. President Klaus Iohannis declared that this is “an absolutely unacceptable violation of the sovereign airspace of Romania, a NATO ally, with real risks to the security of Romanian citizens in the area”. The head of state added that he spoke with the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, and informed him about these pieces of drones found.
“On Saturday, September 9, soldiers from the Romanian Naval Forces, deployed for research missions in the area of Plauru, Tulcea county, carried out search activities in the area of responsibility, as a result of receiving information from the local authorities, sent by the command of the garrison Tulcea, regarding the possible existence of drone elements approximately 2.5 kilometers southeast of Plauru.
Following the execution of the research in the field, fragments of a drone similar to those used by the Russian army were discovered. The area was secured by the military, and the discovered elements will be picked up for analysis and technical expertise,” MApN reports.
During the phone call 📞 I had today with @NATO Secretary General @jensstoltenbergwe discussed about the identification, by the Romanian 🇷🇴 authorities, on our soil of new drone parts, similar to those belonging to drones used by the Russian military.
— Klaus Iohannis (@KlausIohannis) September 9, 2023
Klaus Iohannis claims that the safety of Romanians in the area is at risk
The President of Romania declared that the finding of new drone fragments indicates an unacceptable violation of Romania’s airspace, with real risks to the security of Romanians living in the area. The head of state condemned the incident.
“I reiterate the firm condemnation of Russia’s repeated attacks against the Ukrainian population and civilian infrastructure, including those on Ukrainian ports on the Danube, near the border with Romania. These deeply unjustified attacks violate the norms of international law, being war crimes.
The identification today by the Romanian authorities on the territory of Romania, near the border with Ukraine, of new fragments of a drone, similar to those used by the Russian army, indicates that there has been an absolutely unacceptable violation of the sovereign airspace of Romania, a NATO ally , with real risks to the security of Romanian citizens in the area. I strongly condemn this incident caused by the Russian attacks on the Ukrainian ports on the Danube!”, the president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, said.
Klaus Iohannis talked with the head of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg
Iohannis spoke to Jens Stoltenberg, who informed him about the pieces of drones that had been identified by the military.
“In this context, today I had a telephone conversation with the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, during which I informed him about the new developments, and he reaffirmed full solidarity with Romania and reassured that the North Atlantic Alliance and The Allies are fully with Romania, as was proven, for example, by the recent decision of the USA to increase its presence in Romania with F-16 aircraft as part of the Air Police mission in our country.
As I said before, within NATO, Romania is very well defended and benefits from the strongest security guarantees in our entire history”, concluded the head of state.
At the same time, the Ministry of National Defense strongly condemns the attacks carried out by the Russian Federation against some objectives and elements of civil infrastructure in the Ukrainian ports on the Danube. These attacks are unjustified and in serious contradiction with the rules of international humanitarian law, being war crimes.
“MApN forces remain on alert and will continue investigations in the areas in the vicinity of the locations where Russian forces are carrying out attacks on the Ukrainian port infrastructure on the Danube.
Also, MApN remains in permanent contact with the allied structures, which are informed in real time”, the Ministry of Defense also states.
Tudor Cernegă, the mayor of Ceatalchioi, claims that he has sent numerous notifications regarding pieces of Russian drones falling in Romania
“I had some information, which was transmitted according to the procedure established with Mr. Prefect. The information reached those from the army. The army made checks and that segment of the drone was found. I thank the army for leaning seriously and we cooperated properly .
I’m glad that the information from the locals was given credence (…)”, said the mayor of the Tulce commune.
Regarding the condition of the locals in Ceatalchioi, the mayor said that “people have known for a long time that drones may fall, that they fell, that they hovered above the houses, a fact unjustifiably ignored by certain authorities. Now, the presence of the army is something in addition, for the safety of the people and the fact that they will clarify to you too”, he added.
The mayor claims that he also drew the attention of the authorities regarding the danger of projectiles that may fall on Romanian territory, but his attention was drawn.
“Even the Chief of the General Staff said that while they were looking for drones, one fell into the Danube. If a local told it, no one believed it. They saw the soldiers, who were carrying out missions with the lifeboat. I made some statements and it was noticed that they could put the country at war, the secrecy between the institutions does not lead to anything good”, concluded Tudor Cernegă.
Editor: Andreea Smerea
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2023-09-09 14:03:54
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