A Russian drone that was part of an overnight attack on Ukraine crashed into an apartment building in eastern Romania, injuring two people, Romanian authorities said Friday. The incident occurred in the city of Galati, prompting NATO member Romania to request faster transfer of anti-drone capabilities from the alliance, according to the Foreign Ministry, which called the drone's flight a serious violation of international law.
Romanian Military Response
Gen. Gheorghe Maxim, a stand-in commander for the Romanian armed forces' joint staff, stated at a press conference Friday that the incident is not an attack from Russia against Romania, but emphasized that Romanians should understand Russia is a threat to regional security. The Romanian military scrambled two F-16 fighter jets and a helicopter authorized to engage targets, and alert messages were sent to residents of affected areas.
Details of the Attack
Ukrainian forces shot down 217 drones overnight Friday, according to the country's air force. Russia attacked with 232 drones and one ballistic missile, with hits recorded in 14 areas. The drone that crashed in Romania was tracked by radar in Romanian airspace and landed on the roof of a building in Galati, followed by a fire. Two people suffered minor injuries, and several others were evacuated.
Worst Incident Since Invasion
While Romania has confirmed drone fragments on its territory multiple times since the war started in 2022, including in Galati in April this year, no one had previously been hurt. Romanian President Nicusor Dan convened the NATO member's top defense body for a meeting on Friday to discuss the implications, calling it the worst incident to hit national territory since Russia invaded Ukraine. He directly blamed Russia and announced proportional measures.
International Condemnation
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed the organization's absolute solidarity with Romania, affirming NATO's readiness to defend every inch of allied territory. Finnish President Alexander Stubb condemned the drone strike, stating that Russia is crossing another line. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the incident showed Russia has crossed yet another line, and the EU is actively drafting another set of sanctions against Russia, the 21st so far.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna linked the incident to Putin's increasing nervousness driven by military setbacks, noting that Russia continues its brutal drone and missile attacks despite growing weaker on the battlefield.
Zelenskyy Appeals for More Patriot Missiles
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday he is pressing the United States to provide more Patriot air defense missiles to counter Russian attacks, warning that deliveries are falling dangerously short as the Iran war diverts U.S. stocks. He urged quicker action during a visit to Sweden.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres warned the Security Council that the escalation and intensification of attacks risks getting out of control, with unknown and unintended consequences. He noted that more civilians have been killed in the first four months of this year than in the same period in the past three years, calling for immediate de-escalation and a full and unconditional ceasefire.
