Ministry of Defence issues statement on claims RAF fighter jets shot down Russian drones

The Ministry of Defence have issued a statement.

Over 47 missiles and 619 drones were deployed by Russia with some reportedly breaching the border into Romania.

It was reported that RAF fighter jets on a NATO patrol shot down Russian drones for the first time over Ukrainian territory.

However now the UK Ministry of Defence have responded to the claims.

While Romanian authorities reported that RAF Typhoons were used to engage drones over Ukrainian territory, the UK have said that both Typhoons were scrambled from Borcea Air Base but returned without engaging any Russian assets.

They added that the aircrafts did not enter Ukrainian airspace.

The original statement from Bucharest read: “On the morning of Saturday, April 25, Russian forces resumed drone attacks on civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine, near the river border with Romania, in Tulcea County.

"MApN radars detected drones flying near Romanian airspace. Two Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft of the British Air Force from the Reinforced Air Police combat service took off at 02:00 from the 86th Air Base in Fetești.

“The National Military Command Centre notified IGSU [General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations] regarding the establishment of measures to alert the population in the localities of Grindu and Isaccea, in Tulcea County, and at 02:14, a RO-ALERT message was transmitted.

“The Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft had radar contact with a target located 1.5 km from Reni, above Ukrainian territory. The pilots had authorisation to engage the drones.”