Romania Shoots Down Russian Drones Three Days Straight, Shifting NATO Frontline Posture from Protest to Intercept

Romanian F-16s shot down Russian drones breaching national airspace on July 24, 25, and 26, 2026 — the first active intercepts in Romania's history. Until now, Bucharest limited its response to tracking drones and summoning Russia's ambassador. With violations continuing despite repeated diplomatic protests, NATO faces an open question: what comes after condemnation fails?