Romania scrambles F-16s after Russian drone strikes apartment block in Galati
The Romanian defence ministry confirmed the incursion occurred during resumed Russian attacks on Ukrainian targets, marking a significant escalation in airspace violations near the eastern border.
Romanian authorities have scrambled two F-16 fighter jets after a drone identified by the Romanian defence ministry as belonging to the Russian Federation struck an apartment building in Galati. The incident, which occurred on the night of May 28–29, 2026, resulted in injuries to two residents and triggered a fire on the building’s roof.
The Romanian defence ministry stated that the drone entered Romanian airspace during resumed Russian attacks on civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine, near the river border. Radar tracking confirmed the object penetrated as far as the southern part of Galati before crashing onto the residential structure.
Emergency services responded to the scene, extinguishing the fire and providing medical treatment to two individuals who sustained abrasions. Dozens of residents were evacuated from the building following the impact. While drone incursions into Romanian airspace have been detected dozens of times since the start of the Russian offensive against Ukraine in 2022, this marks the first recorded instance of a drone striking a residential building within the country.
The event underscores the growing security challenges for NATO member Romania as the conflict in Ukraine continues to spill over into neighbouring airspace. The defence ministry’s attribution of the drone to the Russian Federation aligns with official assessments of resumed strikes on Ukrainian targets in the region.
A nationwide air raid alert was issued in neighbouring Ukraine overnight in anticipation of Russian strikes, though it was lifted by the morning. The incident highlights the persistent risks to civilian infrastructure in border regions as aerial activity remains high along the eastern frontier.
