Russian Drone Targeting Ukraine Hits Apartment Building in Romania, Injuring 2, Officials Say

Romanian officials reported Friday that a Russian drone, part of a swarm of 43 launched toward Ukraine, veered off course and crashed into an apartment building in Galati, injuring two people and causing a fire. The drone was tracked by radar overnight, entering Romanian airspace before striking the roof of the building near Ukraine’s border. Romania scrambled two F-16 jets and a helicopter but did not engage the drone, which was later identified as a Geran-2 model carrying at least 30 kilograms of explosives. The incident marked the first injury-causing drone strike on Romanian territory since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, raising concerns about escalation within NATO. Romanian President Nicusor Dan stated the drone originated in Russia, following a confirmed trajectory through Ukrainian airspace, and called the attack a serious violation of international law. Dan also announced the closure of the Russian consulate in Constanta and declared its consul persona non grata, giving the diplomat 72 hours to leave the country. Romania’s Defense Ministry confirmed the drone was part of a broader pattern of territorial violations, with fragments previously landing on its soil without casualties. General Gheorghe Maxim, interim commander of Romania’s armed forces, clarified the incident was not a direct attack but emphasized Russia’s growing threat to regional security. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised Romania’s response, stating military coordination would continue to counter Russian threats. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin denied responsibility, claiming the drone’s origin was unverified and urged Romania to allow an investigation. Romanian officials rejected the request, maintaining their identification of the drone as Russian. The incident has intensified calls within Romania for accelerated NATO support in acquiring anti-drone capabilities to prevent future breaches. Romania’s Supreme Council of National Defense convened to address the incident, which Dan described as the worst on national territory since the war began. The country’s military has previously been authorized to shoot down drones as a last resort, but officials have remained cautious in enforcing such measures. The strike underscored the risks of spillover from the Ukraine conflict into NATO-aligned states.