Romania requests accelerated NATO anti-drone aid after Russian drone strike injures two
Bucharest condemns the incident as an irresponsible escalation, while the alliance denounces Moscow’s actions as reckless.
Romania has formally requested the accelerated transfer of anti-drone capabilities from NATO following a Russian drone strike that crashed into a residential apartment building in the eastern city of Galati. The incident, confirmed by the Romanian defence ministry, marks the first time during the war in Ukraine that Romanian citizens have been physically injured by a stray Russian drone.
The drone entered Romanian airspace and was tracked by radar before crashing onto the roof of a 10-storey building on Friday. The Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations reported that the device’s entire explosive payload detonated upon impact, igniting a fire on the 10th floor. Approximately 70 residents were evacuated from the building, and two individuals received medical treatment for abrasions.
In response to the incursion, the Romanian defence ministry scrambled two F-16 fighter jets. The ministry stated that the drone was detected in Romanian airspace and tracked as far as the southern part of Galati before it struck the residential block. The attack occurred during resumed Russian aerial assaults on Ukrainian targets near the border, with the River Danube forming the boundary between the two nations.
Romania’s foreign ministry condemned the event as a "serious and irresponsible escalation" on the part of the Russian Federation. Bucharest has informed the NATO secretary general of the incident and explicitly requested measures to speed up the transfer of defensive systems to bolster the country’s air defences.
NATO has formally condemned Russia’s actions as "recklessness," with a spokesperson affirming the alliance’s commitment to strengthening defences against all threats, including drones. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Russia had "crossed yet another line" by striking a densely populated area within a member state, pledging full solidarity with Romania.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, drone fragments have been found on Romanian territory on 47 separate occasions, with 12 incidents recorded in the current year alone. While a Russian drone caused material damage in Galati in April, this incident represents the first instance of physical harm to local residents. Russia has not yet issued a comment regarding the specific operational error or intent behind the incursion.
