Early on Friday, a Russian drone collided with an apartment building in Galați, Romania, resulting in injuries and prompting Romanian President Nicușor Dan to convene a national defense council meeting. He described the incident as the most serious to affect Romania since the onset of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Dan emphasized that the responsibility for the incident lies with Russia, criticizing its reckless military operations near NATO borders and its disregard for international law. Although Romania's armed forces were prepared to shoot down the drone, they opted against it to avoid civilian casualties.
In response, Romania has requested additional NATO anti-drone capabilities and plans to inform the UN Security Council about Russia's actions. NATO condemned the incident and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening defenses against such threats.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed solidarity with Romania and announced preparations for a new package of sanctions against Russia, highlighting the ongoing escalation of tensions in the region.
This incident not only raises security concerns for Romania but also for the broader NATO alliance, as it underscores the potential for conflict spillover from the ongoing war in Ukraine