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By Paul Adams International Affairs Editor Robert Plummer BBC News
image caption,
A Ukrainian port facility along the Danube River was hit by a drone on Saturday night.Russia has been attacking these facilities for more than a month.
Ukraine announced on the 4th that a Russian drone had landed on the territory of neighboring Romania. It allegedly happened during Russia’s attack on a Ukrainian city on the border with Romania.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba told reporters after a press conference in Kyiv that he had photographic evidence to back up the country’s claims.
Romania, on the other hand, denies Ukraine’s explanation.
BBC Verify has not been able to confirm the authenticity of the images Mr Kreba claims to be evidence.
If a Russian drone was not intercepted and landed in Romanian territory, it would be the first time a Russian weapon has landed directly on a NATO member state, even if it was accidental.
Türkiye and Russia hold summit
Against this backdrop, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the Russian city of Sochi on the 4th and met with President Vladimir Putin.
Mr Erdogan lobbied Mr Putin to revive the pact that would allow Ukraine to safely export grain from the Black Sea. Russia withdrew from the agreement in July.
Mr Putin has said there will be no resurgence until Western countries lift sanctions on Russian agricultural products.
He also said that Russia was promoting a plan to provide grains to six African countries free of charge and “transport them free of charge.”
Grain exports are the center of the problem
Stalled grain export deals lie at the heart of Ukraine and Romania’s conflicting claims over drone strikes.
Russia has been attacking Ukrainian port facilities along the Danube for more than a month in an attempt to prevent Ukraine from exporting grain via the Danube. The Russian side appears to be trying to prevent an alternative route to the Black Sea from being secured.
On the night of the 3rd, Russia attacked the port of Izmail. The day before, they also attacked the nearby port of Leni with drones.
Ukraine now claims that one or more drones fell over the Danube into Romania. Romania, on the other hand, denies such a thing, and the two countries have different narratives.
Romanian Foreign Minister Ruminica Odvescu said: “Of course there is a risk, because it happened very close to our border.”
“Russia ironically continues to attack civilian infrastructure and does not allow Ukraine to export grain.”
“Of course there is a risk of an accident happening, but for the time being it is not.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleva responded angrily, saying it was “very clear” what had happened.
Some of Ukraine’s partners have effectively turned a blind eye to avoid being drawn into the fray, he said.
Ukraine releases ‘evidence’
BBC Verify has reviewed still images and video of what is believed to be a drone landing on Romanian territory. The image was released on social media on the morning of the 4th by Oleg Nikolenko, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Both images and videos show fireballs rising at night on forested riverbanks. However, it was taken in the dark from a distance, and the resolution is low, so the quality is quite poor. It’s blurry in places, obscuring details.
As such, BBC Verify cannot confirm Ukraine’s claims. It is not possible to determine whether the explosion was caused by a drone or another cause.
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2023-09-05 01:44:35
