NATO member Romania, which shares a border with Ukraine, launched fighter jets early Wednesday in response to a new drone intrusion, according to the nation’s defense ministry.

The defense ministry reported that the drone appeared intermittently on radar for about 12 minutes. This incident occurred following Russian airstrikes near Romania’s border with Ukraine. Fortunately, there have been no reports of any aircraft impacting the ground, the ministry added in a press release.

This incident marks the latest in a string of drone sightings across Europe, frequently resulting in significant disruptions at major airports.

Such incursions have notably increased since September, when over 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace.

Romania has experienced multiple instances of Russian drone debris landing on its territory since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Previously, Romania deployed F-16 fighter jets on September 14 in reaction to a drone incursion during a Russian assault on infrastructure in neighboring Ukraine.

The origins of several of these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are unknown, but European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has described them as ‘hybrid warfare’ waged by Vladimir Putin. 

It comes as NATO fighters and an early warning aircraft were scrambled over eastern Europe early today as Russia launched one of its most intense bombardments of Ukraine.

The timing of the horror followed reports about a new round of talks by the U.S. with Moscow and separately Ukraine aimed at brokering a peace deal.

Russia unleashed missiles and drones across Ukraine, leaving at least 46 wounded in its second largest city Kharkiv including children aged nine and 13.

In Ternopil, multiple missile and drone strikes included a hit on a residential tower block in the latest attack on innocent civilians as they slept – a Putin trademark.

At least nine died in the Putin strike on Ternopil with dozens injured.

Choking smoke covered the city.

A statement from Poland’s armed forces operational commander said: ‘Due to the Russian Federation’s attack on targets located in Ukrainian territory, Polish and allied air forces are operating in our airspace…

‘Duty fighter pairs and an early warning aircraft have been scrambled, and ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest level of alert.

‘These actions are preventative in nature and aimed at securing and protecting airspace, particularly in areas adjacent to the threatened areas.’

A NATO E-3A aircraft – with an Airborne Warning and Control System – was flying over Poland, evidently monitoring today’s morning flights of Russian drones and missile systems over Ukrainian airspace.

NATO planes were also scrambled in Romania due to Russian strikes close to allied territory, amid reports of drones overflying allied territory.

Two German Eurofighter Typhoon fighters and a pair of Romanian F-16s were forced to deploy due to the Russian attacks, said Bucharest.

The German aircraft from Base 57 Mihail Kogălniceanu, serving as the Reinforced Air Police in member state Romania, flew amid Putin’s forces striking in Ukraine close to the River Danube border.

The F-16s of the Romanian Air Force, were scrambled from the 71st Air Base in Câmpia Turzii.

There were fears that a Russian drone had flown five miles inside Romanian territory.

‘The drone reappeared intermittently on radars for approximately 12 minutes, from Colibași (Republic of Moldova) to Foltești and, subsequently, in the area of Oancea (Romania), with a Ro-Alert message being sent in the north of Galați County at 00:59,’ said an air force statement from Bucharest.

Zelensky warned that ‘people may be trapped under the rubble’ following the strike on Ternopil.

‘Every brazen attack on ordinary life shows that pressure on Russia is insufficient,’ he said.

‘Effective sanctions and aid to Ukraine can change this.

‘The primary need is missiles for air defence, additional systems, increased capabilities of our combat aviation, and drone production to protect lives.

‘Russia must be held accountable for its actions, and we must focus on everything that strengthens us and allows us to shoot down Russian missiles, neutralise Russian drones, and stop assaults. Thank you to everyone in the world who helps.’

The latest Russian attacks followed Ukraine firing – for the first time – four U.S. supplied ATACMS ballistic missiles at a target in Voronezh.

Moscow claimed they were all shot down but there are doubts over the Russian claims.

The missiles have been used previously – for example in Operation Iraqi Freedom – to destroy enemy command posts, leading to suspicions that this was the type of target.

The devastating strikes also coincided with Volodymyr Zelensky arriving in Ankara today for expected talks with Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff.

This follows reports of behind the scenes discussions on a peace agreement between Russia and the US, including Witkoff and Putin envoy Kirill Dmitriev in Miami.

This resulted in a 28-point plan covering peace in Ukraine, security guarantees, security in Europe, and future U.S. relations with Russia and Ukraine, according to Axios.

Separately, Trump sent a military delegation to Kyiv for negotiations headed by the Army Secretary Dan Driscol, U.S. Army Chief of Staff Randy George and the commander of U.S. forces in Europe Chris Donahue.

The strike on a high rise residential building in Ternopil was described by Ukrainian sources as a ‘deliberate war crime’.

A desperate rescue effort was underway after a residential building was reduced to rubble, said mayor Serhiy Nadal.

‘There is no military sense in hitting residential areas in this city. It is obvious that this was done deliberately to kill as many sleeping people as possible,’ said one Telegram outlet.

Power and heating cuts were reported as temperatures sank below zero.

‘The only thing Russians know how to do “well” is bomb, explode, and kill,’ reported Telegram channel Nevzerov.

Strikes were targeted at Burshtyn Thermal Power Plant in Ivano-Frankivsk region, where two children were wounded.

In other strikes early today, Russia hit 16 apartment buildings, vehicles, shops, and civilian enterprises in Kharkiv with a swarm of Shahed drones.

Missile and drone strikes on Lviv led to explosions and fires, with a warehouse in flames.

Power outages were reported in the city after a power plant was hit.

Ukraine’s human rights commission Dmytro Lubinets said: ‘Russia has once again shown that its goal is destruction and death.

‘Overnight the aggressor country struck Ukraine again.

‘Kharkiv – 46 injured, including two children. Fires, destroyed houses, completely burned-out entrances.

‘Lviv and Ternopil are also under attack.

‘In Ternopil, an entire residential building lost its upper floors – where people were peacefully sleeping at that moment.

‘The aggressor is not stopped by statements, appeals, or formal condemnations. Only concrete actions can stop it.’

In strikes by Ukraine, the Ilsky oil refinery in Krasnodar region was hit, and airports – including Gelendzhik – close to Putin’s largest palace, closed.

In Russian-occupied Donetsk region, more than half a million people were left without power – leading to a state of emergency being called after Ukrainian attacks.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.