Ukrainian Fighter Pilot Flees to Romania as Russian Forces Reportedly Strike Ukraine Military Targets

A Ukrainian pilot on Thursday morning decided to dip out to Romania instead of fighting a losing battle against Russian military forces.

Reports that a Ukrainian Su-24 fighter fled to Romania were initially stated by Russian media.

However, it was later confirmed the Romanian Air Force grounded the fleeing pilot.

Update: The story about the Ukrainian fighter fleeing to Romania has been confirmed.

I can't judge the pilot for trying to save himself, but it makes for very effective Russian propaganda.

— Clint Ehrlich (@ClintEhrlich) February 24, 2022

Avion militar ucrainean, interceptat și aterizat la Bacău
2 aeronave F-16 Fighting Falcon ale Forțelor Aeriene Române au decolat în jurul orei 6.15, pentru clarificarea unei situații aeriene referitoare la un zbor neautorizat în partea de nord a României.https://t.co/ICdS1wARQC pic.twitter.com/eKgTsFChtr

— MApN (@MApNRomania) February 24, 2022

Translation: “”Ukrainian military plane, intercepted and landed in Bacau. 2 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft of the Romanian Air Force took off around 6.15 am, to clarify an air situation regarding an unauthorized flight in the northern part of Romania.”

Do you really need to put it out here?

— DianaHerodias(Oh!) (@HerodiasDiana) February 24, 2022

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense stated:

Ukrainian military plane, intercepted and landed in Bacau

On Thursday, February 24, two F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft of the Romanian Air Force in the NATO Air Command combat service took off around 6.15 am, to clarify an air situation regarding an unauthorized flight in the northern part of Romania, approaching the national airspace.

The two Romanian military aircraft strictly applied the national procedures and international rules applicable in such situations, proceeding to the interception and visual identification of the aircraft that had entered the Romanian airspace. 

The aircraft, a Sukhoi 27 belonging to the Ukrainian Air Force, was escorted for immediate landing at Bacau Air Base 95, which ended at 07.05.

After landing, the Ukrainian military pilot made himself available to the Romanian authorities, and the legal measures required in these situations will be taken.

We will return with details on this topic as they become available.

Regarding the security situation in Ukraine, the Romanian Army has activated the military command points with responsibilities in monitoring the situation and coordinating the forces and means for concrete situations that may arise.

The leadership of the Ministry of National Defense has taken all the necessary response measures, both those directly incumbent on the institution and those in support of the other components of the national security system, according to the interinstitutional cooperation plans, drawn up in advance.

Footage continues to circulate of Russian cruise missiles reportedly targeting Ukrainian military targets:

Footage of Russian rocket hitting Ivano-Frankovsk airport (it's also an airbase for the Ukrainian Air Force) pic.twitter.com/mIWrrOrIlw

— Russians With Attitude (@RWApodcast) February 24, 2022

https://twitter.com/Abhishe40207354/status/1496716724766347266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1496716724766347266%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.informationliberation.com%2F%3Fid%3D62910

https://twitter.com/theragex/status/1496739288205123587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1496739288205123587%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.informationliberation.com%2F%3Fid%3D62910

https://twitter.com/ASBMilitary/status/1496753350494150659?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1496753350494150659%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.informationliberation.com%2F%3Fid%3D62910

Russia's ministry of defense is claiming that Ukraine's air defenses have all been destroyed.

This map of reported missile strikes shows all Ukrainian military airports neutralized.

Impossible to understate what's unfolding. Unprecedented in history of warfare. pic.twitter.com/6hF8wzJ59k

— Clint Ehrlich (@ClintEhrlich) February 24, 2022

According to foreign-policy analyst Clint Ehrlich, Russian TV is “euphoric” in response to the military operations:

The mood on Russian TV is euphoric.

I do not recall American war coverage like this, even during the Iraq Invasion.

So much laughter. Such big smiles.

As someone who has tried hard to present the Russian perspective to Americans, I'm grossed out.

— Clint Ehrlich (@ClintEhrlich) February 24, 2022

Russian TV is boasting that the attack on Ukraine was precisely coordinated with President Putin's speech.

The moment he said, "I have approved a special military operation," the strikes supposedly began.

— Clint Ehrlich (@ClintEhrlich) February 24, 2022

Ukrainian soldiers are allegedly surrendering en masse, and all Ukrainian airfields have reportedly been destroyed.

Stay tuned for further coverage.