Overnight on 11 November 2025, a Russian drone strike targeting Ukraine’s Danube ports led to debris falling near the Romanian village of Grindu, while Romanian fighter jets were unable to launch due to bad weather, according to Romania’s Ministry of National Defense. Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu confirmed the drone debris landed in an inhabited area on Romanian soil. The drone crash occurred amid the Russian strikes on Ukrainian Danube port areas.

Romanian radars detect drones as air defenses activate

Romania’s Defense Ministry reported that in the early hours of 11 November, radar systems tracked groups of drones in the area adjacent to Romanian airspace. At 12:07 a.m., authorities issued a national emergency alert system's warning to residents in the northern part of Tulcea County. A large number of explosions were recorded on the Ukrainian side of the Danube, near the port of Izmail.

Despite the alert and detection, Romania’s fighter jets remained grounded. The ministry explained that weather conditions in the southeast of the country made takeoff impossible. Air defense systems were nonetheless activated preventively.

At 1:09 a.m., authorities received a report about a drone impact near Grindu, roughly five kilometers south of the Romanian-Ukrainian border. Romanian military teams were dispatched to the site and reported finding possible drone fragments. The zone was secured and investigation began at daybreak.

Drone debris falls in inhabited area — Romania vows response

Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu confirmed that the drone fragments landed “in an inhabited area on Romanian territory.” She called the incident “another reckless attack on Ukraine with consequences on Romanian soil.”

"These actions are part of a series of similar incidents and represent a clear pattern in Russia’s war of aggression," she wrote on X.

According to her, these attacks are part of “systematic Russian provocations against the EU and NATO.”

“We will not hesitate to increase the price Russia pays for such reckless and illegal actions,” Toiu wrote, noting that Romania, the EU, and the US are preparing further sanctions on Russia to raise the cost of aggression.

Russia targeted Odesa Oblast power grid last night

Earlier today, Odesa Oblast authorities reported a Russian drone assault on the southern part of the oblast, targeting energy and railway infrastructure. Ukraine’s Air Force later confirmed that Russian forces had launched a total of 119 long-range drones overnight, “the main focus of the strike was on frontline areas in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk oblasts; and Odesa Oblast.”

During the night, Ukrainian forces tracked drone groups moving toward the Izmail district, and then toward Reni in this district, located directly across the Danube River from Romania’s Tulcea County.

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Poland is continuing its investigation into Russian drones that crashed on its territory during the 9–10 September airspace breach, according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The remains of the UAVs, which entered Polish airspace amid Russia’s drone assault on Ukraine, are still under forensic examination by military counterintelligence experts and prosecutors.

Tusk inspects drone wreckage as probe continues

Prime Minister Tusk posted a video on 3 November from a facility belonging to the Military Counterintelligence Service, where the wreckage is being stored and examined. In the video, he stands in front of debris from the Russian Gerbera drones that fell during the incursion. The official doesn't mention the name of the drones.

“This is how every enemy drone ends, every Russian drone that enters Polish territory,” he said. “We are working on it. That’s why we are investing billions, billions of zlotys in a modern Polish army, in modern Polish services, to secure Polish skies and Polish land against such objects.”

In a caption accompanying the video, posted on X, he added: “Every enemy drone will end the same way.”

NATO partners involved in the examination

Special Services Coordinator Tomasz Siemoniak confirmed that the investigation is still under way. He wrote that experts from the Military Counterintelligence Service and the prosecutor’s office are “thoroughly analyzing all elements connected to this situation.”

He said allied services are also involved in the process. Tusk personally reviewed the current findings of the probe on 3 November.

The September drone incursion

On 9 September, between 19 and 23 Russian drones crossed into Poland’s airspace during a mass UAV and missile attack on Ukraine. The incursion occurred via both Ukraine and Belarus, triggering a Quick Reaction Alert involving Polish F-16s and other NATO aircraft. A few drones were shot down by allied forces, while others crashed uncontrollably in various parts of Poland. Several wrecks were discovered days or weeks later.

Belgium’s armed forces have been ordered to shoot down unidentified drones flying over military installations after a series of incursions above sensitive sites, Belgian Chief of Defense Frederik Vansina said on Monday, as reported by Belgian media.

There is growing concern across Europe over unidentified drones near sensitive military sites, a phenomenon that has triggered security alerts from Scandinavia to Central Europe in recent months. While Belgium has now authorized direct engagement, most NATO countries have so far avoided shoot-down orders, citing the risks of misidentification, civilian harm, and escalation or diplomatic fallout.

The order follows three consecutive nights of drone sightings in Belgium, including four seen Sunday above the Kleine-Brogel air base near Peer, a NATO-linked facility. That same evening, police received reports of about a dozen drones over the Mechelen-Zuid industrial zone.

Vansina confirmed that the Belgian army’s anti-drone program is being accelerated and that a new protection plan will soon be presented to the Council of Ministers. Belgium currently has limited capacity to counter unmanned aerial vehicles, relying mainly on detection tools, jammers, and portable drone guns.

“If more drones appear above army bases, the order has been given to shoot them down,” Vansina said during a naval ceremony in Zeebrugge. 

He stressed, however, that any interception must be carried out “without causing collateral damage,” a challenge given the drones’ small size and the fact that they often fly at night.

The Kleine-Brogel air base has issued safety instructions for nearby residents, urging them to report suspicious aerial activity to police and, if possible, to capture photos or video.

Local and federal police have attempted to track the drones from the ground and air, including by helicopter, but so far have been unable to locate their operators.

The repeated incursions have heightened concern across Belgium, which, like other NATO members, has seen a rise in unidentified drone activity near critical and military infrastructure in recent months.

In the span of 24 hours, unidentified drones were spotted twice over Kleine-Brogel Air Base, a highly sensitive military installation in Belgium that stores US nuclear weapons. The incidents triggered aerial police responses and the use of military jamming devices, but no drone operators were located or apprehended.

Belgian nuclear base sees two drone breaches in one day

In the early evening of 1 November 2025, around 6:30 p.m., drones were detected over Kleine-Brogel Air Base in Peer, Limburg Province, HLN reported. The site is known to house American nuclear weapons and is set to become the home of Belgium’s F-35 fighter jets starting in 2027.

Police were immediately alerted, and a helicopter was deployed to pursue the drones, which reportedly flew toward the Netherlands. Authorities were unable to intercept them or identify the drone pilots.

Belgian defense minister confirms jammer failed during incident

On 2 November, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken confirmed that military forces fired a drone-jamming gun in an effort to disable one of the drones. The device, which uses radio waves to disrupt drone communication, proved ineffective. Francken suggested that either radio frequency mismatches or distance may have rendered the jammer useless.

He stated earlier on X that the drones observed overnight were of a larger type and appeared to have a "clear mission" targeting Kleine-Brogel specifically, rather than being accidental overflights. He also confirmed that detection systems had picked up the drone presence and thanked the base guard team for its vigilance. A local resident captured video footage of a drone near the base, which circulated in Belgian media. 

More bases targeted in growing pattern

Drones were also seen overnight near the military area in Leopoldsburg, which lies close to Kleine-Brogel, Belga said. 

The drone incidents in Limburg follow similar suspicious flights last month over a military base in Elsenborn.

Previously, unidentified drones have been sighted twice over the military base in Marche-en-Famenne in southern Belgium.

No suspects have been identified in any of the recent incidents.

The war has reached orbit. Europe must prepare its own space capabilities to defend itself, as Russia is developing laser weapons that could be deployed from space, European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius, according to the European Commission. 

“The defense of space – and using space for defense is only becoming more urgent, because we are already under attack - also in Space," Kubilius stressed.

“Putin will be ready to test NATO’s Article 5”

Kubilius emphasized that space is now a central element of Europe’s defense readiness.

"We need to be ready before 2030. Because Putin will be ready to test NATO Article 5. And without space, there will be no defence readiness,” he claimed.

The Commissioner said that satellites play a decisive role on the battlefield: in Ukraine, they help coordinate defense, communications, and drones, while Russian satellites guide bombs and missiles.

Russian lasers, spy satellites, and the European Space Shield

“Russia is developing powerful laser weapons that can permanently blind satellites. German satellites are being shadowed by Russian spy satellites, that could damage or destroy them,” Kubilius warned.

He explained that the EU’s new defense readiness roadmap envisions the creation of a European Space Defense Shield, to be launched next summer.

The plan also includes the development of in-orbit servicing, refueling, and repair operations for satellites, as well as the GOVSATCOM program — secure, military-grade satellite communications, which will be operational by the end of the year.

Kubilius said that in modern warfare, the European Union needs three things:

• secure intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance
• secure positioning, navigation, and timing
• secure communication and connectivity

At the same time, the IRIS² satellite is being deployed to provide global, secure connectivity for Europe.

Two unidentified drones flew in Southern Estonia near the Reedo military base on 17 October. One was shot down by allied forces using anti-drone equipment, but authorities never found the wreckage. The incident occurred in daylight hours near the base, and the drones’ origin remains unknown.

Drone intercepted near US military squadron base in Reedo

Postimees reports that Estonian allies intercepted one of two drones flying close to the Reedo military camp in South Estonia at 4:30 p.m. on 17 October. The drones were spotted in the immediate vicinity of the 2nd Infantry Brigade’s base. One of the UAVs was brought down using an anti-drone rifle.

Liis Vaksmann, spokesperson for the General Staff of the Estonian Defense Forces, told Postimees that the forces and the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) tried to find the downed drone. However, despite conducting a search in the suspected fall area, no parts of the drone were located.

The Defense Forces declined to provide further information, citing the security-sensitive nature of the incident.

The Reedo is home to the 5th Squadron of the US 7th Cavalry Regiment, a US armored reconnaissance unit. 

Tensions rise along Estonia–Russia border

On 27 October, Estonia’s Foreign Minister said the country is ready to shoot down Russian drones if they violate Estonian airspace.

Earlier this month, armed Russian military units were observed near the Saatse Boot area on the border, prompting Estonia to close a crossing point. Officials later confirmed that the crossing would remain closed and fences would be constructed at the site.

Lithuania shut down Vilnius Airport for the fourth time in a week after a new wave of suspicious balloon incursions. Authorities blame Belarus for repeated airspace violations and smuggling attempts, triggering serious national security responses. In response, Vilnius indefinitely closed two Belarus border crossings.

Fourth airport shutdown over Belarus-linked balloons

At 9:42 p.m. on 26 October, Vilnius Airport suspended air traffic due to balloons flying toward its airspace. According to Vilnius Airport, the closure lasted until 4:30 a.m. the next morning and affected 47 flights — 13 were cancelled, 14 diverted, and 20 delayed.

The airport warned of further delays due to crew and aircraft rotation issues. Passengers with cancelled flights were told not to come to the airport and to contact their airlines for alternatives. Airlines were instructed to provide full details on next steps.

Lithuania accuses Belarus of using meteorological balloons for smuggling and destabilization. Officials believe the incidents form part of a deliberate pattern targeting the country’s airspace and borders.

Border crossings closed indefinitely

At 10:10 p.m. the same evening, Lithuania closed the Medininkai and Šalčininkai border checkpoints. The State Border Guard Service (VSAT) reported the halt in the movement of vehicles and individuals following new balloon incursions from Belarus, according to LRT.

Interior Minister Vladislavas Kondratovičius announced on Facebook that the closure would remain in place until a separate decision by the National Security Commission. He called the move essential to safeguard national security and resist hybrid threats.