Residents living near the Romanian-Ukraine border are increasingly living in fear due to a rise in Russian drone activity. In Isaccea, a small town in eastern Romania near the Danube River, locals have been receiving frequent alerts about potential drone incursions. For 48-year-old Robert Marian, these alerts have become a source of constant anxiety. “There are warnings that something is coming,” he said. “It happened two weeks ago, maybe three. I was asleep at midnight … One was quieter, but another was really loud. I got scared and ran out of the house.” The tension has escalated since September 1, when Romanian customs officials temporarily closed the Isaccea-Orlivka crossing after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed it had been deliberately damaged. Alina Mihail, another Isaccea resident, described the drone alerts and the resulting explosions as deeply unsettling. “I have so many nights where I don’t sleep anymore,” she said. “I live in terror, me and my husband.” Data from Romania’s Ministry of National Defense show a significant increase in drone-related incidents this year. There have been 27 drone incursions so far compared to 9 in all of 2025, and 37 drones or drone parts have been found on Romanian soil, up from 16 the previous year. The number of attacks near the border has also risen sharply, with 73 this year compared to 28 last year. NATO countries have accused Russia of conducting hybrid warfare, including drone attacks, sabotage, and other incidents. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned that Russia has grown “increasingly reckless” and that more drones and missiles are crossing into European airspace, increasing the risk for NATO members. Romanian Defense Minister Radu Miruta said Russia is seen as a “primary, significant threat” to Romania and the eastern flank. He noted that discussions are ongoing about how to best counter this threat, and that Romania is working closely with Poland and the Baltic states to ensure coordinated defense capabilities. Despite a reduction in U.S. troop numbers in Eastern Europe, Miruta said there are still over 1,000 U.S. soldiers in Romania, more than after the last troop rotation. He added that while there is no immediate risk of a ground invasion, the proximity of the border with Ukraine makes Romania uniquely vulnerable to drone attacks on Danube River ports. To address the growing threat, Romania has acquired the MEROPS system, which is designed to counter small drones. The country has also received funding from the EU’s Security Action for Europe program and signed a $2 billion contract with an Israeli firm for air defense systems. Romania is also participating in NATO’s Drone Edge project, which aims to invest over $40 billion in counter-drone capabilities over the next five years. Back in Isaccea, Alina Mihail and her husband continue to live with the fear of drone attacks. “We have no support, no one to help us,” she said. As the situation remains tense, the residents of Isaccea and other border communities are left to cope with the uncertainty and danger that has become a part of their daily lives.