Romania closes Russian consulate after Geran-2 drone strike hits Galati residential block
The incident, described as the most serious of its kind since 2022, has prompted diplomatic sanctions and a push for increased military equipment from NATO allies.
A Russian Geran-2 drone struck an apartment block in Galati, Romania, early on Friday, 30 May 2026, causing structural damage and leaving a woman and her teenage son in hospital with minor injuries. Romanian President Nicosur Dan confirmed the device was Russian, stating it had been diverted from its intended target in Ukraine. The incident is described as the most serious of its kind in the country since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.
Romanian authorities tracked a swarm of 43 drones travelling from east to west on Friday, noting that one changed direction and entered Romanian territory after being hit by the Ukrainian army. President Dan stated that the drone was identical to a previous unexploded device recovered weeks earlier, confirming its Russian origin. In response, Romania has closed a Russian consulate in Constanta and is seeking increased military equipment from NATO, while rejecting the invocation of Article 4 or Article 5 to avoid causing panic among the population.
The drone hit the lift shaft on the roof of the residential building, which absorbed much of the blast, preventing what building manager Costel Patrichi described as the potential destruction of an entire floor. Approximately 70 residents were evacuated overnight, and emergency services confirmed the fire had been extinguished by the morning of 29 May. Two individuals received medical treatment for abrasions and minor burns, with the woman and her son remaining in hospital.
Residents in Galati are expressing heightened fear and a sense of vulnerability, with some stating they will sleep with fear due to the risk of recurrence. Patrichi expressed frustration that Romania’s air force could not intercept the drone, noting that pilots only had moments to react before the weapon was over a built-up area, making interception too risky. He contrasted this with instances where Romanian fighter jets have shot down drones near Estonia, highlighting the immediate threat faced by the local population.
The European Union is working on a new set of sanctions against Moscow, and Romania is acquiring drones of its own, with plans to develop others in cooperation with Ukrainian companies. While NATO allies have called Russia’s conduct reckless, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ignored reporters’ requests to comment on the incident. President Dan indicated that the next diplomatic measure would be to expel the Russian ambassador, escalating the diplomatic hierarchy of measures in response to the attack.
