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Nato and European Union leaders have strongly condemned Russia after a Russian drone struck a residential building in Romania, injuring two people and causing panic in the eastern town of Galati near the Ukrainian border.
The incident happened on Friday and marked the first time civilians in the Nato member state have been injured by a Russian drone since the start of Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Romanian authorities confirmed that the drone hit a block of flats and its explosive payload detonated completely, triggering a fire on the tenth floor of the building.
Romania’s emergency situations authority said around 70 residents were evacuated as emergency teams worked to contain the fire. Two people suffered abrasions and received treatment at the scene. Authorities later confirmed that the situation had been brought under control.
The drone strike immediately drew sharp reactions from western leaders. Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte described Russia’s actions as reckless and dangerous, warning that the consequences of Moscow’s war were extending beyond Ukraine’s borders.
Rutte said he had spoken directly with Romanian President Nicușor Dan and assured him that Nato stood ready to defend every inch of allied territory. He added that the military alliance would continue strengthening its readiness against threats including drone attacks.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also condemned the incident, saying Russia’s war of aggression had crossed yet another line. Romania’s foreign ministry described the strike as a serious and irresponsible escalation by the Russian Federation.
President Dan convened an emergency meeting of Romania’s Supreme Defence Council following the attack. He described the drone strike as the most serious incident affecting Romanian territory since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
Romania’s defence ministry revealed that two F16 fighter jets were scrambled after the drones were detected near the border. Brigadier General Gheorghe Maxim explained that Romanian forces had only four minutes between detection and impact.
Maxim noted that the Romanian military faced major operational limitations because it could not launch missiles or projectiles into Ukrainian airspace. He stressed that although Ukraine is at war, Romania remains at peace and must operate within international and alliance rules.
Romanian military officials attempted to reassure citizens by stating that the strike was not a deliberate attack on Romania but rather a consequence of the ongoing war taking place along its border with Ukraine.
The foreign ministry in Bucharest summoned the Russian ambassador after the strike, while France also announced similar diplomatic action. French Foreign Minister Jean Noël Barrot called the drone strike an irresponsible act by Russia. Hungary’s Prime Minister Péter Magyar also expressed solidarity with Romania and wished the injured a quick recovery.
The United States ambassador to Nato Matthew Whitaker condemned the incident as a reckless incursion into allied territory.
Since the start of the war, Romania has repeatedly reported Russian drone fragments landing on its territory, particularly near the Danube River border area close to Ukraine’s ports. Romania’s defence ministry says drone debris has been discovered on Romanian soil 47 times since 2022, including 12 incidents this year alone.
Nato member states including Poland and the Baltic countries have also experienced incidents involving drones linked to the war in Ukraine. The latest strike in Galati has once again highlighted growing concerns among Nato allies about the risks posed by the conflict spreading beyond Ukraine’s borders.
