UK rejects suggestion British jets downed Russian drones

UPDATE 25 April 2026: The UK Ministry of Defence clarified following widespread international reporting that RAF Typhoons had shot down Russian drones, stating that both aircraft were scrambled from Borcea Air Base but returned to base without engaging any Russian assets and did not enter Ukrainian airspace. Romania’s Ministry of National Defence had reported that the pilots were authorised to engage drones near Ukrainian territory and that multiple explosions were subsequently reported near Reni, with drone fragments found on the ground shortly afterwards.

Romania has since issued a second press release clarifying the position and directly addressing the confusion generated by the original statement’s sequence of events, confirming that RAF Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft operated strictly within Romanian airspace throughout the mission and did not enter Ukrainian airspace at any point. In the new release, Romania’s Ministry of National Defence confirmed that “while the pilots received authorization to engage the aerial targets, no drones were shot down by the aircraft, because the drones did not breach the Romanian airspace”, adding that “the mission remained one of surveillance, deterrence, and readiness to respond if required.”

The clarification also addresses the drone that came down in Galați, explaining that ground-based radar tracked multiple aerial targets approaching the area near Reni where explosions were subsequently reported, after which contact with the drones was lost, with residents of Galați reporting the fall of an object around half an hour later, making clear the incident in Galați was unrelated to any action by the Typhoons. Romania said that “allied aircraft maintained a defensive posture, contributing to enhanced situational awareness and the protection of NATO airspace”, and that the ministry “remains committed to transparency, within the limits imposed by operational security considerations.” The second statement provides the context that was absent from the first press release and which led to widespread reporting of an engagement across multiple outlets earlier on Saturday morning.

Two RAF Eurofighter Typhoon jets were scrambled from Borcea Air Base in Romania in the early hours of Saturday 25 April following reports of Russian drone attacks near the Romanian border, though the Ministry of Defence has confirmed that both aircraft returned to base without engaging any targets.

Romania’s Ministry of National Defence had published a press release stating that on the morning of Saturday 25 April “Russian forces resumed drone attacks against civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine, near the river border with Romania, in Tulcea County.” Romanian radars detected drones operating close to Romania’s airspace, with two Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft of the British Air Force, assigned to the Enhanced Air Policing mission, taking off at 02:00 from the 86th Air Base in Fetești.

The Romanian MoD stated that the Typhoons established radar contact with a target located 1.5 kilometres from Reni, above Ukrainian territory, and that “the pilots were authorized to engage the drones”, with ground-based Romanian radars tracking a group of targets to the area of Reni where multiple explosions were reported.

At 02:31, residents of Galați reported the fall of an object in the Bariera Traian area via the emergency services, with drone fragments subsequently identified in several locations in the area and secured by Romanian police and military personnel. Preliminary assessments indicated that an outbuilding within a household and an electricity pole were affected, with no casualties reported.

The UK account, however, states that the aircraft did not engage any Russian assets, did not enter Ukrainian airspace, and that reports of the Typhoons shooting down Russian drones are incorrect. The two official accounts have not yet been reconciled.

Romania’s Ministry of National Defence said it “strongly condemns the irresponsible actions of the Russian Federation”, emphasising that the incident represents “a new challenge to regional security and stability in the Black Sea area”, and that “such incidents demonstrate the Russian Federation’s disregard for international law and endanger not only the safety of Romanian citizens but also NATO’s collective security.”