Authorities issued a RO-Alert on Wednesday night about possible falling objects in northern Tulcea. A resident reported hearing a loud bang near Grindu. The Defense Ministry stated that an aerial target briefly entered national airspace near Reni. Investigations are underway Thursday to check for a possible impact site.
“On the night of Wednesday, February 12, towards Thursday, February 13, Russian drone systems carried out a new attack on civilian and infrastructure targets located on the territory of Ukraine, near the border with Romania. As a result of the fact that the radar monitoring and surveillance systems of the Ministry of National Defense signaled air targets that evolved on different flight paths in Ukrainian airspace, in the proximity of the national airspace, the National Military Command Center (nucleus) notified the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, around 11 p.m., regarding the establishment of measures to alert the population in the border area of Tulcea and Galati counties,” informs the MApN.
To monitor and supervise the airspace in the area, two F-16 aircraft of the Romanian Air Force and, subsequently, two Eurofighter aircraft of the Spanish Air Force, belonging to the Air Police Combat Service, took off from the 86th Borcea Air Base and the 57th Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, respectively.
“The radar systems of the MApN identified, at around 00:30, an aerial target that briefly crossed the national airspace, near the locality of Reni, at a depth of approximately 1 km inland, later heading towards the Ukrainian airspace. At the same time, a possible impact zone was reported on the national territory, near the Romanian-Ukrainian border, approximately 10 kilometers east of the administrative boundary of the municipality of Galaţi, without any material damage being reported,” the Ministry of National Defense states. At 01.10, the air alert termination signal was transmitted in the two counties, with the combat aircraft subsequently returning to their deployment air bases.
According to procedures, on Thursday morning, MApN forces will conduct searches in the reported location, as well as in other areas in the vicinity of the Ukrainian objectives attacked by Russian forces.
“MApN has informed and is informing allied structures in real time about the situations generated by the attacks, remaining in permanent contact with them. The Ministry of National Defense reiterates its firm message of condemnation of these attacks carried out by the Russian Federation against Ukrainian objectives and civilian infrastructure elements, which are unjustified and in serious contradiction with the norms of international law“, MApN transmits.
The RO-Alert message to the population, which also serves to convey minimal protection measures, was the following:
“There is a possibility of objects falling from the airspace. Keep calm! Take shelter in basements or civil protection shelters. In the absence of shelter, stay inside the house, away from windows and exterior walls. Estimated duration: 90 minutes”.
According to the cited source, people are advised to call 112 to report any unusual event. ISU Tulcea specified that, in such situations, it is not the Romanian territory that is targeted by the attacks of the Russian Federation, but areas and port facilities located on the left bank of the Chilia Veche Arm, on the territory of Ukraine.
“We have only had one call so far, from the Grindu area, a resident announced that he had heard a bang. The dispatchers discussed the situation with the caller and explained it to him”, the mentioned source added.
Two Russian drones, downed in the Republic of Moldova
Following the same attack on the night of February 12-13, following a massive drone attack on the port of Reni, Ukraine, the border police patrols of the Republic of Moldova reported several drones of this type that crossed the territory beyond the Prut. One of the drones fell on an agricultural field near the village of Ciumai, Taraclia district. As a result of the explosion, no one was injured, Ziarul de Garda reports. Another drone exploded on a field in the region between the town of Ceadir Lunga and Valea Perjei.
The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, reacted in a post on social networks, assessing what happened as “very serious” and adding that her country will continue to develop partnerships with European countries and modernize the Army.
“Today something serious happened. Two Russian drones fell in Moldovan villages and towns – one fell on a field near Ciumai in Taraclia, and another exploded in a field near Ceadir-Lunga. The territories have been isolated and there is no danger to citizens at this time. The Republic of Moldova did not attack anyone, we did not claim any foreign territory, we did not enter into conflict with any other state, we have neutrality enshrined in the Constitution. The Republic of Moldova promoted and did everything for peace. However, Russian drones and bombs fall and explode in our villages. And we must admit that we do not have the necessary capabilities to defend ourselves from them. It is very serious that this is happening and it is equally serious that some politicians are betraying their country, stating that we should not even be able to defend ourselves, that Moldova must remain weak and vulnerable in the face of such threats. We will continue to develop partnerships with European countries and modernize the National Army, so that one day we will be a state that fully ensures the security of its citizens. Authentic neutrality means being able to defend ourselves against the bombs of an aggressor state that reach our territory”, wrote Maia Sandu on Facebook.