In a concerning development, two NATO members have reported airspace violations by Russian drones, raising fears of further escalation in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The incidents involved a drone entering Romanian territory while attacks were being carried out on Ukraine, and another drone crashing in Latvia.

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense confirmed that a Russian drone flew into Romania early on Sunday, as Moscow targeted civilian targets and port infrastructure across the Danube in Ukraine. In response, Romania deployed F-16 warplanes to monitor its airspace and issued text alerts to residents in two eastern regions. No casualties or damage has been reported, but investigations are underway in an uninhabited zone along the Romanian-Ukrainian border.

Latvia's Defense Minister, Andris Sprūds, revealed that a Russian drone had crashed near the town of Rezekne in Latvia, likely having strayed into the country from neighboring Belarus. While such incursions into Latvian airspace are rare, Romania has previously confirmed the presence of drone fragments on its territory, indicating repeated airspace violations.

NATO's outgoing deputy secretary-general and former Romanian top diplomat, Mircea Geoana, condemned Russia's violation of Romanian airspace. While there is no information suggesting an intentional attack by Russia against allies, Geoana emphasized that such acts are irresponsible and potentially dangerous.

Latvian authorities also downplayed the significance of the drone incursion, assuring that no casualties or property damage occurred. Defense Minister Andris Sprūds highlighted the incident as a reminder of the troublesome nature of neighboring countries.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine, casualties continue to mount. The regional military administration reported two civilian deaths and four injuries in a Russian airstrike on the city of Sumy. Two children were among the wounded. The Russian Defense Ministry later claimed that its forces struck foreign pro-Kyiv fighters in a village on Sumy's outskirts, although it remains unclear if this refers to the same attack.

The violence has also affected the Kharkiv region, where overnight shelling claimed the lives of two elderly women. Ukrainian air defenses managed to shoot down one cruise missile and 15 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by Russia. The Ukrainian air force reported that none of the cruise missiles reached their intended targets.

In the eastern Donetsk region, three women were killed in a Russian shelling of a village, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin. Additionally, rescue teams recovered the bodies of two men from a hotel destroyed by a Russian airstrike. The death toll from a recent Russian missile strike on a military academy and hospital in the city of Poltava has risen to 58, with over 320 individuals injured.

Since launching the invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, the Russian military has repeatedly targeted civilian infrastructure, causing significant damage and loss of life. Poltava, located southeast of Kyiv, is a critical stronghold for Ukraine's defense and supply routes. Russian forces continue their advance towards the city of Pokrovsk, compromising Ukraine's defense capabilities and bringing Russia closer to achieving its objective of capturing the entire Donetsk region.

As tensions rise and the conflict intensifies, concerns over the violation of airspace by Russian drones add another layer of complexity to the already volatile situation. The international community continues to closely monitor the developments and calls for a peaceful and diplomatic resolution to the crisis.