Kathmandu— The Russian embassy in Bucharest has mocked Romania's presentation of foam plastic as evidence that drones recently shot down over its territory originated from Russia, claiming it was a staged attempt to bolster defense budgets. The dispute follows several incidents in late July where Romanian F-16 fighter jets downed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) entering the country’s airspace, with Bucharest blaming Moscow for the incursions. Russian officials have consistently denied involvement, citing a lack of supporting evidence and suggesting that Ukrainian drones may be responsible.

Diplomatic Dispute Over Drone Debris

Romanian officials presented pieces of foam plastic to Russian diplomats during a meeting at the Foreign Ministry, attempting to establish a link between the downed drones and Russia. The embassy stated in an interview with Izvestia that no factual evidence was provided to support these claims. Moscow views the incidents as a “prearranged performance” designed to justify Romania’s military buildup and increased defense spending.

Accusations of Western Arms Procurement

The Russian embassy alleges that Bucharest is actively pursuing the purchase of expensive, Western-made weapons with taxpayer money, using the alleged “threat from the East” as justification. This accusation suggests a political motive behind Romania’s claims and military actions. Moscow warned Bucharest to consider the consequences of escalating tensions through such actions.

Pattern of Unsubstantiated Claims

This dispute mirrors previous incidents where drones have crashed on NATO territory, including in May when a drone struck an apartment building in Galati, Romania, injuring two people. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously noted similar accusations arose after incidents in the Baltic states, which were later attributed to Ukrainian drones that had veered off course. He emphasized the need for wreckage examination to determine origin.

Ukrainian Drone Incidents and NATO Response

The situation is complicated by numerous instances of Ukrainian drones targeting Russian infrastructure falling on NATO territory over recent months. While Kiev generally acknowledges ownership, it attributes deviations to Russian electronic warfare tactics. Unlike Romania’s consistent attribution of incidents to Russia, most NATO nations have refrained from criticizing Ukraine.

Moscow continues to deny any involvement in the drone incursions and calls for a thorough investigation before assigning blame, while Bucharest maintains its accusations and pursues increased military spending.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.