NATO has vowed to ‘defend every inch of allied territory’ after a Russian drone hit a Romanian apartment block and injured two people in an overnight attack on neighbouring Ukraine.
Following the incident in Galati, western Romania, Vladimir Putin was declared a ‘real threat’ to the entirety of Europe by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga.
The episode marked the first time in the war that a drone had hit a densely populated area in Romania and caused injuries.
It is likely to increase tensions on NATO’s eastern flank at a time when Ukraine’s allies are worried about Moscow’s war on its neighbour spilling over its borders.
The drone hit the roof of a 10-storey block of flats and caused an explosion, leading to the evacuation of 70 people.
‘Russia’s reckless behaviour is a danger to us all,’ NATO chief Mark Rutte said after a call with the Romanian president, Nicuşor Dan. ‘I affirmed that NATO stands ready to defend every inch of allied territory.’
‘The recent incursion of a Russian drone into the Romanian airspace and its explosion… proved once again that Russian aggression poses a real threat to the Black Sea region and the entire Europe,’ Ukrainian Foreign Sybiga said in a post on X.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen joined the chorus of condemnation, saying Russia’s ‘war of aggression has crossed yet another line’.
Police and forensic investigators examine the location of impact after a Russian drone struck an apartment building in Galati, western Romania
A fire burns on the roof of a 10-story block of flats after a drone crashed into the building, causing an explosion and injuring two people, near the border with Ukraine, in Galati, Romania
First responders on the scene after a drone crashed into a residential building in the city of Galati, western Romania
Romania called the strike a ‘grave and irresponsible escalation’.
‘Last night showed yet again that the implications of their illegal war of aggression don’t stop at the border,’ Rutte wrote on X.
‘We will continue to strengthen our deterrence and defence at home and continue our support for Ukraine as they defend against Russia’s aggression,’ he added.
Romania, which shares a 650-km (400-mile) land border with Ukraine, has experienced Russian drones breaching its airspace 28 times since Moscow began attacking Kyiv’s ports across the Danube river, Romania’s defence ministry said.
The ministry said it had recovered drone fragments that fell in Romania 47 times.
‘Romania will take the necessary diplomatic measures in response to this serious violation of international law and its airspace,’ Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu said on X.
‘Romania has informed the Allies and the NATO Secretary General of the circumstances and has requested measures to accelerate the transfer of anti-drone capabilities to Romania.’
The defence ministry said it scrambled two F-16 fighter jets and a military helicopter to monitor the attack, adding the pilots were authorised to shoot down any drones. The residents of border counties Braila, Galati and Tulcea were warned to take cover.
Romanian law allows it to shoot down drones during peacetime if lives or property are at risk, but it has not yet done so.
Ukrainian drones have strayed into Baltic countries’ airspace in recent weeks, sowing confusion and raising tensions with Russia.
In Friday’s incident, a fire broke out in a 10th-floor apartment after the drone struck the building’s roof and exploded.
Two people were receiving medical treatment on site.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged his European allies to increase sanctions on Russia in the wake of the incident.
‘We count on the European Union’s new sanctions measures against Russia to be truly strong and to make Russia feel that its strikes mean significant losses for Russia itself,’ he said on X.
State news agency Agerpres cited Galati’s emergency response agency as saying a woman and her child had been taken to hospital with minor injuries while two others had been treated on site for panic attacks.
The drone’s entire explosive payload detonated, and the fire was extinguished, the emergency agency said.
The defence ministry said radar lost contact with the drone as it entered Galati as it was flying very low to the ground.
Deputy Interior Minister Raed Arafat, who is in charge of the emergency response agency, told private broadcaster Digi24 the drone affected two building stairwells and damaged five cars.
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said on X on Friday morning: ‘We condemn Russia’s recklessness, and NATO will continue to strengthen our defences against all threats, including drones.’
French Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad condemned the incident and said Russia posed a threat to European security.
‘Russia has not only attacked Ukraine, but also threatened the European security architecture. A Russian drone crashed in Romania again last night, posing a threat through its interference,’ Haddad told French radio RMC.
‘I would also like to point out that we have French troops stationed in Romania as part of NATO’s reassurance operations, specifically to demonstrate our support for the sovereignty of our partners in Europe,’ he added.
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Romania has summoned Russia’s ambassador for urgent talks, Foreign Minister Oana said.
‘The decision was taken following the incident of major gravity, and we will officially communicate to him the effects that this lack of responsibility on the part of the Russian Federation will have on the diplomatic relations between our countries and the next steps at the European level regarding packages of sanctions.
‘The President convened the Supreme Council of National Defence this morning,’ she said.
In a separate incident, a drone without an explosive charge was found around Basesti in Maramures county in northwestern Romania and the area was secured, state TVR broadcaster said late on Thursday, citing local authorities.
The authorities were investigating the origin of the drone, which the report said had a wingspan of about 3 metres (10 feet), and how it happened to be in the area, TVR added.
Local authorities in southern Ukraine, meanwhile, said the Izmail port in the Odesa region came under attack from several drones early on Friday.
Izmail, close to the Romanian border, is home to the largest Ukrainian port on the Danube River and is a frequently targeted strategic location.
Galati was last hit in April, when a drone damaged an electricity pole and a household annex, prompting evacuations. Officials retrieved that drone to detonate its unexploded payload remotely.
