NATO must provide a "strong, coordinated" response to incidents in which Russian missiles or drones launched toward Ukraine violate the alliance's airspace, Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tilvar said today.

NATO's eastern member countries, whose defense ministers met today in Bucharest, have repeatedly said that Russia's activities in the Black Sea area are a source of deep concern.

Russian drones were shot down earlier this month after entering the airspace of NATO members Romania and Latvia, prompting calls for joint action to counter violations of Russian airspace.

Last week, Ukraine accused Russia of using strategic bombers to target civilian ships carrying grain in a missile attack in the Black Sea near Romania, further raising tensions between Moscow and NATO.

"The B9 countries are deeply concerned about the repeated incursions of Russian drones and missiles into NATO airspace in Poland, Romania, Latvia, as well as the escalation of tensions on NATO's eastern flank," it said. Tilvar told reporters, referring to the regional grouping of Alliance members.

"Therefore, a strong, coordinated response at the Alliance level is needed, as well as the application of rotational air defense and an integrated anti-missile model as soon as possible," he added.

Polish Deputy Minister of Defense Pawel Zalewski said that the meeting of defense ministers of NATO member countries in October will be devoted to the issue of destroying drones that enter allied airspace.

"We have confirmed hybrid attacks against allies, as well as the participation of Belarus in Russian actions," Zalewski said.

Romania shares a 650-kilometer-long border with Ukraine, and debris from Russian drones has flown into its territory on several occasions. Romanian territory is close to Ukraine's river ports on the Danube, which are frequent targets of Russian attacks.