Two Romanian soldiers were killed in Afghanistan on Sunday evening (September 22) by an improvised explosive device.

According to the preliminary information presented by the Romanian Ministry of Defense (MApN), the pair were on a patrol mission, however a second statement from the Ministry says they died while executing a combat mission in eastern Afghanistan.

After the explosion, the soldiers,  Vasile Claudiu Popa (in picture, right) and Adrian Postelnicu (in picture, left), were taken to a military hospital where, despite the doctor’s efforts, they’ve died, the statement reads.

Popa, 28, had been with MapN since 2006 and this was his second mission in Afghanistan.

Postelnicu was on his first mission in the region. Aged 34, he had been working within the MApN since 2009.

According to a recent statement of Romanian Defense Minister Mircea Dusa, the number of Romanian troops deployed to Afghanistan will significantly drop in 2014.

At the end of June 2013, Romania had around 1,500 troops in Afghanistan, and the number might drop to around 200 next year.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: mapn.ro)