NATO Members Report Airspace Violations by Russian Drones

Two NATO members reported on Sunday that Russian drones breached their airspace. One drone reportedly entered Romania during nighttime strikes on Ukraine, while another crashed in Latvia the previous day.

A drone entered Romanian airspace early Sunday as Moscow targeted "civilian targets and port infrastructure" along the Danube in Ukraine, according to Romania's Ministry of National Defence. Bucharest deployed F-16 warplanes to monitor the situation and issued alerts to residents in two eastern regions.

Drone Incidents in Romania and Latvia

Romania's Ministry of National Defence stated that investigations were ongoing regarding a potential "impact zone" in an uninhabited area near the Romanian-Ukrainian border. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Later on Sunday, Latvia's Defence Minister Andris Spruds said a Russian drone fell near Rezekne the day before, likely straying from Belarus. Rezekne is home to over 25,000 people and lies about 55 kilometers west of Russia and 75 kilometers from Belarus.

Mircea Geoana, NATO's outgoing deputy secretary-general and Romania's former top diplomat, condemned Russia's violation of Romanian airspace. "While we have no information indicating an intentional attack by Russia against Allies, these acts are irresponsible and potentially dangerous," he wrote on X.

Statements from Officials

Latvia's military also stated there were no signs that Moscow or Minsk intentionally sent a drone into the country. The military identified the crash site, and an investigation is ongoing.

Spruds downplayed the incident's significance, saying, "I can confirm that there are no victims here and also no property is infringed in any way," adding that any risks were immediately eliminated: "Of course, it is a serious incident, as it is once again a reminder of what kind of neighbouring countries we live next to."

Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the incursions "a reminder that the aggressive actions of the Russian Federation go beyond Ukraine's borders." He added, "The collective response of the Allies should be maximum support for Ukraine now, to put an end to Russian aggression, protect lives and preserve peace in Europe."

Civilian Casualties in Ukraine

In Ukraine, two civilians died and four others were injured in a nighttime Russian airstrike on Sumy. Two children were among those wounded, according to the regional military administration.

The Russian Defence Ministry claimed later on Sunday that its forces struck foreign pro-Kyiv fighters in a village near Sumy. It was unclear if this referred to the same attack.

Ukraine's General Staff reported continued Russian airstrikes on Sumy and surrounding regions. By mid-afternoon Sunday, at least 16 "glide bombs" had hit the province.

Russian forces shelled Sumy again during the day Sunday, wounding a teenager and a civilian man, according to the regional prosecutor's office.

Ongoing Conflict in Eastern Ukraine

Three women died Sunday after Russian forces shelled a village in Donetsk region, reported Gov. Vadym Filashkin on Telegram. Separately, shelling killed a woman on Kharkiv's outskirts, local authorities said.

The death toll rose to 58 from Tuesday's massive missile strike on Poltava's military academy and nearby hospital. Over 320 others were wounded, according to regional Gov. Filip Pronin.

Since early 2022, Russia has used missiles to target civilian areas repeatedly. These attacks sometimes kill many people at once.

Military Movements Near Pokrovsk

Russian forces continued their push toward Pokrovsk and increased attacks near Kurakhove farther south. The General Staff reported this ongoing activity.

The Russian Defence Ministry said its troops had taken Novohrodivka, southeast of Pokrovsk. DeepState reported Saturday evening that Russian forces had advanced in Novohrodivka and captured Nevelske.

Pokrovsk is a key logistics hub with a prewar population of about 60,000. Its capture would compromise Ukraine’s defence and supply routes and bring Russia closer to capturing the entire Donetsk region.

Prospects for Peace Talks

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agree that Moscow should be included in future peace talks aimed at ending its invasion of Ukraine. "There will certainly be a further peace conference, and President Zelenskyy and I agree that it must be one with Russia present," Scholz told Germany’s ZDF public television.

A previous peace conference held June 15-16 in Switzerland ended with 78 countries supporting Ukraine’s "territorial integrity" but left future steps unclear. Russia did not participate.

Zelenskyy did not immediately comment on Scholz’s remarks but mentioned holding "important negotiations" with Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni without giving details.