EUROPE / FOREIGN DRONE EVENTS

Shot down · Romania

Romania shoots down drone it identified as Russian over Buzău County

· Padina · Pogoanele

Reported foreign

On 24 July 2026 a Romanian F-16 shot down a drone over an uninhabited part of the Padina–Pogoanele area in Buzău County, Romania. The drone had approached from the Black Sea and Danube area and then flown a long way inland. Italian NATO aircraft and Romanian aircraft responded before it was destroyed.

Romanian authorities identified it as a Russian drone. It was described as Shahed-type, but its exact designation has not been conclusively established, and details of its type and precise track rest on secondary reporting. The wreckage was under investigation.

No casualties were reported.

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Image from the Wikipedia (original report source) report: 2026 drone incidents in Romania
Image · Wikipedia (original report source) · Open report ↗
An object in the sky in Observator coverage of how Romanian F-16s shot down the drone over Buzău County.
Video · Observator (Antena 1) · Open report ↗Additional coverage, not one of the register’s sources.
A military helicopter and police car in a field near Padina, where remains of the downed drone were searched for.
Video · Euronews Romania · Open report ↗Additional coverage, not one of the register’s sources.

Attribution and uncertainty

Origin / operator / attribution
Romanian authorities identified Russian drone
Investigation / uncertainty
Wreckage investigation; type and precise track details in prior secondary chronology.

Sources · 2

  1. Reuters ↗Third Russian drone downed by Romania in three days, 26 July 2026
  2. Wikipedia (original report source) ↗2026 drone incidents in Romania

Full record

Shot downFlight

Map positions are approximate anchors for the named place, not verified incident coordinates.

Reported date
2026-07-24
Date basis
24 July; EEST
Location / jurisdiction
Padina–Pogoanele area, Buzău County; EU airspace/land
Event categories
Long inland incursion; attempted interception; shoot-down
What was reported
Aircraft responded before drone was destroyed over an uninhabited area.
Aircraft / vessel / quantity
1 Shahed-type UAV; exact designation not conclusively established here
Origin / operator / attribution
Romanian authorities identified Russian drone
Damage / casualties / disruption
No casualties reported
Response / outcome
Italian/NATO and Romanian aircraft responded; Romanian F-16 ultimately downed it.
Investigation / uncertainty
Wreckage investigation; type and precise track details in prior secondary chronology.
Route / entry mechanism
Black Sea/Danube approach, followed by inland flight
Explosive payload
Not reported
Counting / links
First of three distinct daily Romanian shoot-downs, E035–E037; not the same-day ship event E034.
Research provenance
Prior research; not independently rechecked in full for this export

Record E035. Record fields keep the register’s original wording.