The Romanian Ministry of Defense deployed aircraft for monitoring after an unknown aerial object was detected near the border. This is the second such airspace intrusion in 48 hours.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, addressed Ukrainians from a bunker on Bankova Street, where his first conversations with world leaders took place at the beginning of the war. He emphasized the resilience of the Ukrainian people and expressed a desire to one day come there with the US President.
On the M-15 highway (Odesa – Reni), the movement of freight transport, buses, and minibuses is temporarily restricted due to bad weather. Passenger cars move without restrictions, and checkpoints operate as usual.
The State Border Guard Service is restricting traffic through checkpoints on the border with Moldova starting at 5:00 AM on February 18, 2026. The restriction applies to freight vehicles and passenger transport due to severe weather conditions.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu stated that she would vote for unification with Romania if a referendum were held. She believes this would help protect the country's democracy from Russian pressure.
President Zelenskyy stated that the 'Oreshnik' strike on Lviv region is a clear challenge for Warsaw, Bucharest, and Budapest. He emphasized the need for a system of joint actions and defense.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba summarized the results of 2025 in the transport industry, noting an increase in seats on international trains and the launch of the Eurotrack. The "transport visa-free regime" with the EU was extended, and digital systems such as eCherha and e-TTN were introduced.
On the M-15 Odesa — Reni highway within the Mayaky settlement, traffic restrictions in both directions have been lifted. Traffic was temporarily stopped on December 18 after Russian attacks.
Moldovan police received a report about the alleged mining of trains heading to Kyiv, and passengers of a train traveling from Przemyśl to Kyiv were evacuated at the Medyka border crossing due to a mysterious package.
Three new Ukrainian-language audio guides have appeared in Romania, France, and Belgium, announced First Lady Olena Zelenska. Now, 115 Ukrainian audio guides are operating in 59 countries worldwide.
General Alexus Grinkevich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO, stated that fewer American troops in Europe would not burden the continent's defense. This comes amid the expected withdrawal of American troops from Europe and their redeployment to the Indo-Pacific region.
Romania will have to independently deter the enemy in case of a Russian invasion; NATO troops will only be able to help after several weeks. This was revealed by military exercises in Cincu, which focused on ground combat.
In Romania, in Vaslui county, a Russian drone was discovered on November 25, which violated its airspace during a Russian attack on Ukraine. Defense Minister Ionuț Moșteanu reported that the drone was without a warhead.
Romania and Bulgaria are trying to prevent the shutdown of their critical oil refineries as US sanctions against their Russian owners take effect on November 21. Bulgaria is considering nationalizing Lukoil's refinery in Burgas, while Romania views nationalization as a "last resort" for the Petrotel refinery.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that member countries will invest 5% of GDP in defense by 2035. This is due to the long-term threat from Russia and its cooperation with other countries.
In Kyiv, a 39-year-old man, under the influence of alcohol, threw an airsoft grenade in a shopping mall. The grenade detonated, but there were no casualties; the man has been detained.
UNN has compiled a ranking of young and progressive Ukrainian entrepreneurs who are driving the development of the Ukrainian economy and markets, creating EdTech ecosystems, automating the European restaurant market, managing hundreds of millions of dollars in client finances, putting Ukraine on the map of the bionic revolution, developing Ukrainian sports, and building venture funds.
The leader of the far-right S. O.S. Romania party, Diana Iovanovici-Șoșoacă, threatened to "break the legs" of Volodymyr Zelenskyy if he tries to speak before the Romanian parliament. She claims to have already disrupted his speech in October 2023.
During a visit to Moscow, pro-Russian MEP Șoșoacă stated that she would "break Zelenskyy's legs" if he dared to speak in the Romanian parliament again.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel helped the Russian army master modern combat tactics before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2014. The defense concern Rheinmetall planned to receive a contract with the Kremlin worth about 1 billion euros.
Despite massive attacks, "Ukrzaliznytsia" sent train No. 99/100 "Kyiv - Bucharest" on its first journey. It will run daily, transporting passengers according to the established schedule.
Despite blackouts, trains run with minimal deviations. Delays are recorded in Dnipropetrovsk region due to lack of voltage and in the Grebinka area.
Ukrzaliznytsia is opening a new international route Kyiv – Bucharest, tickets for which are already available. The first trip is scheduled for October 10, which is part of a plan to increase the number of tickets for international flights to the EU.
Romania summoned the Russian ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs due to the violation of its airspace by a Russian drone on September 13, 2025. The Romanian side expressed a strong protest and called for avoiding future violations.
September 8 marks the International Day of Journalists' Solidarity, dedicated to unity and the fight for freedom of speech, as well as International Literacy Day, established by UNESCO to draw attention to the problem of illiteracy. Also on this day, Apology Day, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Nurses Day, the folk holiday Rozhanytsia, and Christians celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
EVA network together with the HeroCar project of Ruslan Shostak Charitable Foundation handed over 119 cross-country off-road Sihao motorcycles to the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine.
Romanian Railways is testing a new direct train route between Bucharest and Kyiv. The four-car train will run once a week via Chisinau.
The foreign ministers of Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania met in Chernivtsi. They agreed to institutionalize the "Ukraine-Moldova-Romania" format and named it the "Odesa Triangle."
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced the launch of a test railway connection between Kyiv and Bucharest. Two carriages are departing for Romania via Chisinau, returning to Kyiv tomorrow.
In Bucharest, a taxi driver refused a ride to former Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș from the airport. The driver was fined 500 lei and had his professional certificate confiscated.
