Romania Bolstered Its Control Over NATO’s Border After Russia’s Attack on the Port of Izmail

Romania has increased border control measures along NATO's frontier following a Russian attack just 15 km from Tulcea. The Ministry of National Defence has strongly condemned Russia's assault on the port of Izmail on the Danube and explained that "there have been no direct military threats to Romania's national territory or territorial waters."

Additionally, Romania's Ministry of Defence revealed that it is constantly monitoring NATO's border, according to a statement from the department's press service.

"The Ministry of National Defence strongly condemns the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and the continuation of unjustified and illegal attacks on civilian areas and critical infrastructure objects in Ukraine. As for the situation arising from the attacks on port infrastructure facilities near Izmail, not far from the border with Romania, assessments by the structures under the Ministry of National Defence have not identified any direct military threats to Romania's national territory or territorial waters," the statement from the ministry said.

The ministry also stated that it "implements heightened alert measures, in line with national and allied plans, conducting continuous monitoring of national land, sea, and air territory, and collaborating with NATO structures to enhance defense along the entire eastern flank and deter any aggression against allied territory."

Russian forces attacked the Odesa region, including the port of Izmail, which is located very close to Romania, using Iranian drones Shahed-136/131.

Ukrainian military personnel from the Southern Operational Command added that the enemy deliberately tried to destroy port infrastructure on the Danube.

The drones were launched from three directions: Kursk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, and from the Russian-occupied Crimea, according to a statement from the Ukrainian Air Force.

Earlier, due to the attack by Iranian attack drones of the Shahed type, three grain warehouses were destroyed in the port of Reni.

According to reports, around 15 "Shaheds" were detected. Residents of Reni and surrounding villages heard a series of explosions. The shockwave also damaged windows of buildings and structures in the port of Reni. There were local fires that were promptly extinguished.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis condemned Russia's attacks on the infrastructure on the Danube in southern Ukraine, calling it a war crime.

"The ongoing attacks by Russia on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure on the Danube, near Romania, are unacceptable. These are war crimes, and they further affect Ukraine's ability to provide food products to those in need around the world," emphasized Iohannis.