Romania expels Russian diplomat as drone airspace violations continue

Romania declared a Russian embassy employee persona non grata on Monday, ordering the diplomat to leave within five days, after a fourth consecutive day of airspace incursions by Russian drones targeting Ukraine, AFP reported.

Vladimir Lipaev, Russian ambassador to Romania, is shown fragments of drones downed on Romanian territory summoned at the Romanian Foreign Ministry in Bucharest, Romania in this handout image released on July 27, 2026.

Romanian Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS

The foreign ministry said the Russian ambassador had been formally notified of the decision.

The expulsion followed the summoning earlier Monday of Russian Ambassador Vladimir Lipaev, whom Romanian news agency Agerpres said was called in "in a firm response to repeated violations of Romanian airspace on July 24-26, as a result of which the Romanian army shot down three drones that entered the country's territory without permission".

Romania, which shares a 650-kilometer land border with Ukraine, has faced recurring airspace breaches since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, with 33 drone incursions recorded to date. Lawmakers responded last year by passing legislation authorizing the military to shoot down drones violating Romanian territory.

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Source: PAP