According to the president, if the pieces came from a Russian aircraft, it would seriously violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Romania, a NATO country.
President of Romania Klaus Johannis has demanded an urgent investigation into the bodies found on Romanian soil, which are believed to be the remains of the plane. The pieces were found near the border with Ukraine shortly after an airstrike was carried out on the Ukrainian side near the border area.
Romania, a member of the military alliance NATO, had previously denied on several occasions Ukraine’s claims that Iranian-made Russian aircraft had fallen and exploded on the Romanian side in connection with the attack on the Ukrainian port of Izmail on Sunday evening.
– Researchers have found parts resembling airplane wreckage on the evening of September 5, says the Romanian Ministry of Defense in a press release.
The pieces were found near the village of Plauru, which is located on the other side of the Danube, on the opposite bank as seen from the port of Izmail. According to the ministry, the found pieces are now undergoing technical analysis in order to find out their characteristics and origin.
Romanian President Klaus Johannis said earlier this week that no drone or parts of one have been found on Romanian soil. On Wednesday, however, the voice seemed to have changed on Johannis’ watch, when the president called for an urgent and professional investigation.
– If it is confirmed that these parts belonged to the Russian drone, such a situation would be completely unacceptable and would seriously violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Romania, a NATO ally, said Iohannis at the beginning of the Three Seas Initiative summit hosted by Romania.
Opposition leader: The government tried to cover up
Johannis says that he has also informed the NATO Secretary General and Romania’s NATO allies about the latest developments through the ambassador. NATO representative Dylan White said in a statement sent to AFP that NATO ambassadors had expressed strong solidarity with Romania at a meeting on Wednesday.
– We are following the situation closely and are still in close contact with our ally Romania, said White.
According to NATO rules, member countries are obliged to defend their allies. Romanian opposition leader, center-right USR party Catalin Drula accused the government of trying to cover things up.
– They lied for two days. Ukraine told the truth. Their instinct is to sweep it under the rug, wrote Drula on Facebook.